Decoded: David Shrigley

8 Jul 2025 | 2 min read

His work stands out for its wit, accessibility, and subtle depth, bridging the worlds of contemporary art, illustration, and conceptual commentary.

In celebration of his off-kilter brilliance, we’ve rounded up a collection of facts - some you might know, others that may surprise you - spotlighting the trajectory of one of Britain’s most irreverent creative voices.

‘Self-delusion is quite important if you want to be an artist’

David Shrigley

Deep Dive

In 2022, Soho House opened its doors in Brighton. As with every House, the art collection is a reflection of the location, and Brighton is home to Shrigley. Described as the 'big fish' by the global art director, Kate Bryan, the British artist was the catch they needed for the collection.

‘A ripe banana is a good metaphor. A place for eccentricity, decadence and craziness’

- David Shrigley

Celebrating the mundane

When we were on lockdown during the COVID-19 outbreak, Shrigley created 340 drawings.

Iconic British Artist for an Iconic British Band

Shirgley created the video of Blur's track, Good Song, from the award-winning album Think Tank in 2003.

Turner Prize Nomination

In 2013, following his solo show Brain Activity at the Hayward Gallery, Shrigley received a nomination for the prestigious Turner Prize.

Record auction result

$165,100 is the artist's auction record for a 5-meter-tall granite sculpture of a shopping list. MEMORIAL is situated in New York's Central Park.

Really Good 👍🏻

Another accolade under Shrigley's belt is his contribution to the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square. The 7m tall, comically extended thumbs up graced the Fourth Plinth from September 2016 to March 2018 and has made its final journey to Melbourne, Australia.