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David Shrigley
Best known for his childlike drawings, which have appeared in books and British newspapers, Glasgow-based artist David Shrigley also creates sculptures, photographs, and paintings, all employing black humor as a strategy for getting along in an absurd world. This publication accompanies an exhibition organized by the Center for Curatorial Studies Museum, Bard College.
Published on the occasion of the exhibition presented at the Center for Curatorial Studies Museum, Bard College, September 30-December 14, 2001 and at the UCLA Hammer Museum, University of California, Los Angeles, February 9-May 5, 2002
Published on the occasion of the exhibition presented at the Center for Curatorial Studies Museum, Bard College, September 30-December 14, 2001 and at the UCLA Hammer Museum, University of California, Los Angeles, February 9-May 5, 2002
- GenresArtCoffee Table Books
88 pages, Paperback
First published June 15, 2022
3 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
David Shrigley
74 books126 followersDavid Shrigley is a Glasgow-based artist. He attended City of Leicester Polytechnic's Art and Design course in 1987-1988, and subsequently studied Environmental Art at the Glasgow School of Art from 1988-1991. Shrigley is a lifelong supporter of Nottingham Forest FC.
Although he works in various media, he is best known for his mordantly humorous cartoons released in softcover books or postcard packs.
Like the poet Ivor Cutler, Shrigley finds humour in flat depictions of the inconsequential, the unavailing and the bizarre - although he is far fonder of violent or otherwise disquieting subject matter. Shrigley's work has two of the characteristics often encountered in outsider art - an odd viewpoint, and (in some of his work) a deliberately limited technique. His freehand line is often weak, which jars with his frequent use of a ruler; his forms are often very crude; and annotations in his drawings are poorly executed and frequently contain crossings-out (In authentic outsider art, the artist has no choice but to produce work in his or her own way, even if that work is unconventional in content and inept in execution. In contrast, it is likely that Shrigley has chosen his style and range of subject matter for comic effect).
As well as authoring several books, he directed the video for Blur's 'Good Song' and also for Bonnie 'Prince' Billy's 'Agnes Queen of Sorrow'. From 2005 he has contributed a cartoon for The Guardian's Weekend magazine every Saturday. He is represented in Paris by the by Yvon Lambert Gallery, and in 2005 designed a London Underground leaflet cover.
David Shrigley co-directed an animate!-commissioned film with award-winning director Chris Shepherd called Who I Am And What I Want, based on Shrigley's book of the same title. Kevin Eldon voiced its main character, Pete. He also produced a series of drawings and t-shirt designs for the 2006 Triptych festival, a Scottish music festival lasting for three to four days in three cities. He has also designed twelve different covers for Deerhoof's 2007 record, Friend Opportunity.
The name of Jason Mraz's third studio album We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. is a reference to a piece of art by Shrigley which caught Mraz's attention while he was travelling through Scotland
Although he works in various media, he is best known for his mordantly humorous cartoons released in softcover books or postcard packs.
Like the poet Ivor Cutler, Shrigley finds humour in flat depictions of the inconsequential, the unavailing and the bizarre - although he is far fonder of violent or otherwise disquieting subject matter. Shrigley's work has two of the characteristics often encountered in outsider art - an odd viewpoint, and (in some of his work) a deliberately limited technique. His freehand line is often weak, which jars with his frequent use of a ruler; his forms are often very crude; and annotations in his drawings are poorly executed and frequently contain crossings-out (In authentic outsider art, the artist has no choice but to produce work in his or her own way, even if that work is unconventional in content and inept in execution. In contrast, it is likely that Shrigley has chosen his style and range of subject matter for comic effect).
As well as authoring several books, he directed the video for Blur's 'Good Song' and also for Bonnie 'Prince' Billy's 'Agnes Queen of Sorrow'. From 2005 he has contributed a cartoon for The Guardian's Weekend magazine every Saturday. He is represented in Paris by the by Yvon Lambert Gallery, and in 2005 designed a London Underground leaflet cover.
David Shrigley co-directed an animate!-commissioned film with award-winning director Chris Shepherd called Who I Am And What I Want, based on Shrigley's book of the same title. Kevin Eldon voiced its main character, Pete. He also produced a series of drawings and t-shirt designs for the 2006 Triptych festival, a Scottish music festival lasting for three to four days in three cities. He has also designed twelve different covers for Deerhoof's 2007 record, Friend Opportunity.
The name of Jason Mraz's third studio album We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. is a reference to a piece of art by Shrigley which caught Mraz's attention while he was travelling through Scotland
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 27, 2023
I mean, it's a David Shrigley book. If you've ever read a David Shrigley book, well, it's more of that. Sometimes funny, sometimes observant, sometimes relatable, sometimes total nonsense.
I think I took more photos of the content than I usually do, so perhaps it was good?
I think I took more photos of the content than I usually do, so perhaps it was good?
August 16, 2025
Get Your Shit Together - David Shrigley
★★★★★
“Weather Forecast: I am a Cloud. I am full of Rain. I am telling you this out of courtesy.”
Artsy. Vivid. Inspiring.
I devoured this book in one sitting. Shrigley spins wit and wisdom through colorful artwork, oxymorons, and deceptively simple phrases. In “Charging Rhinoceros”, he reminds the reader that wild rhinos - like troublesome humans - will leave you alone if you ignore them. In “Glue”, he slyly nudges at consumerism and waste.
He plays with language like a juggler - finding new meanings in the same words (“Weather Forecast”, “It Was All Going Well and Then It Started Raining”) and flipping notions with gems like, “Deaf in one eye, Blind in one ear.”
This is a funny, playful, and unexpectedly hopeful read - one that leaves you lighter but sharper, ready to face the world with a smirk 😏.
★★★★★
“Weather Forecast: I am a Cloud. I am full of Rain. I am telling you this out of courtesy.”
Artsy. Vivid. Inspiring.
I devoured this book in one sitting. Shrigley spins wit and wisdom through colorful artwork, oxymorons, and deceptively simple phrases. In “Charging Rhinoceros”, he reminds the reader that wild rhinos - like troublesome humans - will leave you alone if you ignore them. In “Glue”, he slyly nudges at consumerism and waste.
He plays with language like a juggler - finding new meanings in the same words (“Weather Forecast”, “It Was All Going Well and Then It Started Raining”) and flipping notions with gems like, “Deaf in one eye, Blind in one ear.”
This is a funny, playful, and unexpectedly hopeful read - one that leaves you lighter but sharper, ready to face the world with a smirk 😏.
August 13, 2025
This is art. Very unique! I find it very inspiring! Let the thoughts come out, illustrate them, free them. It doesn't have to make sense to all and everyone.
July 9, 2025
Let Shrigley rain all over you
hab meine Wohnung neu tapeziert
hab meine Wohnung neu tapeziert
October 24, 2024
A favorite. Intelligent and funny.
April 6, 2022
I liked this one piece the most:
May 12, 2023
Book of the year.. obviously
Should be nominated for a Booker
Should be nominated for a Booker
October 10, 2023
Oliver and I read this together in the park and hooted at the silliness. I love the use of colour and he was shocked by the swears.
Read
November 3, 2024I want half of this book framed and hung around my apartment.
February 19, 2025
Cute, quirky and a little bit silly. Bright, colourful art that has a childlike quality. It's like a cross between memes, art and a cartoon strip. Delightful.
March 18, 2025
also precisely my humour and exactly what I think my brain looks like
April 8, 2025
ridiculous!! so so incredible!! i love david shrigley he rocks, thanks isa for the rec💌
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews