David Shrigley, Vibes, 2018

Vibes (2018) – David Shrigley Screenprint

About the Work

Vibes (2018) is a striking David Shrigley screenprint that pairs the artist's celebrated deadpan humour with a vivid, arresting palette. The composition features a surreal, multi-limbed blue creature rendered in bold gestural lines against a minimalist backdrop. Its expressive yellow eyes and erratic physical form dominate the pictorial space, creating an immediate visual impact.

This peculiar figure serves as a visual metaphor for the intangible atmospheres and emotional projections we encounter in daily life. Through the lens of absurdity, the exaggerated limbs and anxious gaze subvert classical portraiture to reflect contemporary existential unease. The deliberate tension between the playful title of the artwork and its unsettling subject matter highlights the artist's keen social observation.

David Shrigley

As a Turner Prize nominee and celebrated member of the Royal Academy, David Shrigley has secured a singular position within contemporary British art. Best known for his satirical commentary on the mundane aspects of human existence, his practice spans public commissions including the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square. His works are held in prestigious public institutions worldwide, from Tate in London to the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

The artist translates his raw, immediate ink-and-acrylic drawings into the graphic medium with remarkable fidelity. Collecting a David Shrigley print offers an accessible window into this celebrated satirical universe, preserving the spontaneous charm of his original line work. This graphic immediacy has made his editions highly sought after by international art collectors.

Screenprint Process

Published in collaboration with the renowned Jealous Gallery, this edition demonstrates the meticulous technical standards of modern printmaking. The production employs a rich, four-colour screenprint process on heavy Somerset tub-sized 410gsm paper to ensure deep colour saturation. Each hand-pulled layer of ink captures the texture and nuance of the original drawing with exceptional clarity.

The collaboration with the print studio allows the vibrant inks to sit richly on the textured Somerset paper, mirroring the flat perspective of his paintings. Acquiring a David Shrigley limited edition print from this era ensures a faithful representation of the artist's unique graphic language. The physical depth of the hand-pulled inks elevates the work far beyond a standard digital reproduction.

Collectability

Works featuring the artist's signature character motifs and bold textual commentary continue to generate substantial collector interest on the secondary market. The iconic aesthetic of Vibes makes it instantly recognisable, ensuring its enduring appeal among seasoned and emerging contemporary art collectors alike.

Representing a major colour work from his celebrated 2018 printmaking period, the piece remains a particularly desirable example of Shrigley's graphic practice. With an edition size limited to just 125, this screenprint represents a scarcer, highly sought-after release compared to his larger poster runs. The combination of its vibrant visual presence and modest edition size secures its position as a key acquisition for any serious collection.