It takes a rather eccentric personality to open up your inner musings to the world, but David Shrigley embraces it wholeheartedly. Shrigley’s wry humour and handwritten messaging catapulted the art of typography to new heights.
Shrigley's witty and often nonsensical ramblings have given new life to typographical art, making it relatable to a wide audience and, most importantly, showing that art can be fun, too. We love how Shrigley creates artwork for himself first, and his audience second. Shrigley says of this insular method of creation: “I draw to amuse myself on occasion, when I am bored and drawing is the only fun to be had.” His art is not to amuse the viewer - they’re general humorous mumblings about everyday life. This makes his work all the more relatable.
Talk to the Hand by David Shrigley
Catapulting the eccentric British wit to the international stage, David Shrigley’s humorous compositions are engaging and dynamic artworks that are universally relatable. This viewing room is a celebration of Shrigley’s ability to spread joy with his unique, dry humour. His simple yet effective prints make the art world more approachable to a wider audience, meaning that people from all walks of life can find joy within his pieces.
Shrigley’s down to earth compositions are reminiscent of childhood doodles or random thoughts, with his intriguing commentary adding that extra layer of familiarity. We’ve all had peculiar musings, yet Shrigley makes his public, allowing the viewer to find an affinity with his work. Shrigley’s carefree attitude has unconventional origins. The artist’s anti-fine art attitude was inspired by vandals that broke into his studio and destroyed his work during his time at university. Instead of being inconvenienced, the situation was comedic to Shrigley and from that point on he developed his well-known style, inspired by the vandal’s act of careless destruction. We love how this attitude is reflected in the artist’s playful artworks. Taking witty typography to new heights, David Shrigley’s much-loved artworks are not to be missed.
I Hate Human Beings (2021) by David Shrigley
Creating an artwork that is relatable, approachable and engaging is no easy feat, but David Shrigley seems to have perfected the task. His acerbic wit brings his playful artworks to life, and his naive style is a refreshing addition to the British contemporary art scene. His artworks are a pure reflection of a quintessential quirky British humour that is both eccentric and familiar. If you’re a fan of art that makes you smile, then Shrigley is perfect for you.
Shrigley studied Fine Art at the Glasgow School of Art. He has exhibited globally, with solo shows across Europe, the United States of America, Asia, New Zealand, and Australia. His group exhibitions are similarly geographically diverse, with shows in the United Kingdom, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the United States of America. As a prolific artist, Shrigley has been nominated for the 2013 Turner Prize and awarded an honorary doctorate by De Montford University in Leicester, UK. In addition, he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to visual arts.
You don’t have to relate to Shrigley's artwork to find it funny, but you do have to embrace the absurdity of it all. Take a look at his collection here. Want to find out more about the witty artist? Read our article '10 Things You Didn't Know About David Shrigley' to get the lowdown on how Shrigley shot to fame.
