I've Never Seen You

About This Work

David Shrigley, an artist celebrated for his idiosyncratic voice and incisive wit, presents "I've Never Seen You," a print created in 2020 that exemplifies his unique blend of humor and melancholy. Shrigley's works, often characterized by rudimentary line drawings and succinct, pithy text, convey a deeper narrative through their apparent simplicity. "I've Never Seen You" is no exception, offering a glimpse into the existential and sometimes absurd musings that define his practice. Born in 1968 in Macclesfield, Shrigley has carved a niche for himself in the contemporary art world with his unabashedly crude style. He honed his skills at Glasgow School of Art, where he immersed himself in environmental art, a discipline that perhaps informs his ability to engage directly, almost conversationally, with his audience. This artistic education has allowed him to navigate a range of mediums — drawings, sculptures, animations, and, notably, prints — all the while maintaining an intentional rawness in his work. "I've Never Seen You" fits seamlessly into Shrigley's broader oeuvre, where anxiety and existential dread are narrated as if through the scribblings of a student furtively expressing thoughts in the corner of a schoolbook. His imagery, often populated by lopsided animals and misshapen objects, resonates with viewers, evoking both amusement and introspection. In this print, the hand-drawn visual elements combined with typographic expressions are typical of Shrigley's approach—stripped back yet deeply engaging. His inspirations, galvanized at times by the banal and the mundane, reflect universal human conditions and the peculiarities of modern life. In the wider scope of his career, Shrigley has been involved in notable commissions such as the "Really Good" sculpture for Trafalgar Square's Fourth Plinth and innovative installations like "Mayfair Tennis Ball Exchange." These works, alongside "I've Never Seen You," manifest his penchant for merging the everyday with the extraordinary, inviting audiences to re-evaluate their perceptions of art and its role in societal commentary. As part of Zebra One Gallery's collection, "I've Never Seen You" captures the gallery's dedication to contemporary works that challenge, amuse, and engage on multiple levels, echoing Gabrielle du Plooy's vision since its founding in 1976.

About the Artist

David John Shrigley (born 17 September 1968) is a British visual artist. He lived and worked in Glasgow, Scotland for 27 years before moving to Brighton, England in 2015. Shrigley first came to prominence in the 1990s for his distinct line drawings, which often deal with witty, surreal and darkly h...

Zebra One Gallery

Contemporary Art • Hampstead, London

Established 1976 • 50 years of excellence in contemporary art • Professional authentication and provenance research