David Shrigley is an iconic artist who has created obliquely comedic and nihilistic drawings since the days of Britpop. This has led Shrigley to become one of the most financially successful artists of his time. He is a firm favourite on Instagram and as other works have fallen by the wayside of trends, Shrigley has remained ever present and relevant to the conversation.
Shrigley implores others to be unafraid to fail at anything and to delve into opportunities to grow and do other things. The artist himself has consistently taken opportunities in both his professional and personal life to bring him to the artist that we know and love today.
Here are 5 things you never knew about David Shrigley
1. He is a football fanatic...
Whether it's back in Leicester, at his old haunts up in Scotland or abroad, Shrigley is a self-proclaimed football fanatic and will make sure to plan football matches whilst on his travels. Back in 2015 the artist took it one step further with designing a mascot for one of his favourite teams, Patrick Thistle.
2. He was an extra in Trainspotting...
Back in 1995, Shrigley was an extra in the now cult classic film Trainspotting. However, the artist had no clue that it would be iconic and the gig for him was just a job. Although you don’t see his face and his character was cut from the film, his legs made it into the film we know and love.
3. He gained second-class honours at university...
After studying at the Glasgow School of Art, Shrigley was awarded a second class honours. This knock gave him a self-proclaimed “chip” on his shoulder after a combination of this and not selling any works at his degree show. Little did Shrigley know that he would go on to be honoured by the Queen in 2019, receiving an OBE for contributions and accomplishments to the visual arts.
4. He started by selling books of his works for £3.50...
After finishing university Shrigley had a low profile but after nudges from friends, Shrigley would use his Xerox machine to self-publish books of his work. He started selling them for £3.50 at the local pub!
5. He has written a self-help book titled, How are you Feeling?...
Whilst most know Shrigley’s work as drawing and sculpture, the artist has worked across an extensive range of media. The artist has also pushed beyond the realms of art collaborating with brands such as Casetify, Dedicated and Hypebae. The most far stretch is Shrigley’s Self help book, How are you feeling? Which is categorized under comedy and comics.
We’re delighted to announce that David Shrigley is part of our Signature collection at Hancock Gallery and we are thrilled to bring his unique and timeless classics to the market for investment.
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