David Shrigley, Warhol Lives, 2019

Warhol Lives (2019) – David Shrigley Linocut

About the Work

Warhol Lives (2019) is a striking David Shrigley linocut that pairs a stark black-and-white feline silhouette with the bold, hand-carved text of its title. Executed on heavy wove paper, the composition strips away all superfluous detail, presenting a high-contrast graphic that commands immediate attention. The deliberate, raw scraping of the lino block leaves visible textures, contrasting the deep black ink against the stark white background.

This particular composition channels a sense of deadpan absurdity, conflating the iconic legacy of Andy Warhol with the mythic nine lives of a common house cat. By carving the declaration directly into the matrix, the artist elevates a playful conspiracy theory into a monumental public statement. The wide-eyed, slightly manic expression of the feline subject serves as a perfect vehicle for this surreal pop-art tribute.

David Shrigley

Renowned for his satirical commentary on contemporary life, the celebrated British artist has secured a formidable position in the international art world. From his nomination for the Turner Prize in 2013 to his celebrated Fourth Plinth commission in Trafalgar Square, his irreverent style has resonated globally. His work is held in prestigious public collections, including Tate and the British Council, reflecting his enduring institutional significance.

Translating his immediate, raw ink drawings into formal graphic editions allows his characteristic humour to reach a broader audience. Each David Shrigley print preserves the urgent, unfiltered energy of his sketchbooks while refining the presentation for the gallery wall. This tension between casual execution and fine-art production defines his highly sought-after graphic oeuvre.

Screenprint Process

Released in an exceptionally tight run of just twelve copies, this rare graphic work represents one of the artist's most exclusive physical releases. Unlike a typical multi-layered screenprint, this relief print utilises a single hand-carved block pressed onto heavy Somerset-style wove paper. The heavy ink coverage creates a rich, tactile surface where the dense black pigments settle deeply into the fine paper fibres.

Collaborating with the master printers at Schäfer Grafisk Værksted, the artist successfully captured the raw, manual energy of the gouged linoleum block. This meticulously produced David Shrigley limited edition print demonstrates how traditional relief techniques can mirror the graphic immediacy of his famous screenprint editions. Through this demanding process, the unique imperfections of the hand-carved line are immortalised with remarkable fidelity.

Collectability

Feline subjects occupy a highly coveted niche within the artist's wider market, consistently generating intense competition among global buyers. Works featuring these distinctive animal subjects are widely recognised as some of his most iconic and enduring graphic statements. The combination of minimal aesthetic elements and dry wit ensures that pieces of this nature remain highly visible on the secondary market.

Representing a highly sought-after animal motif from a crucial 2019 publishing period, Warhol Lives is an exceptionally scarce and desirable example of the artist's graphic output. Because the edition size was strictly limited to 12 impressions, acquisitions of this work are exceedingly rare. This extreme scarcity ensures continued collector interest among those seeking to secure his most exclusive printed editions.