David Shrigley (b. 1968, Macclesfield, UK) is a British artist whose distinctive drawing style, deadpan humor, and sardonic observations have earned him international acclaim and a devoted following. Known primarily for his mordantly funny drawings featuring crude stick figures, animals, and everyday objects accompanied by handwritten text, Shrigley creates work that appears deceptively simple while offering incisive commentary on the absurdities of modern life. His practice spans multiple media including drawing, painting, sculpture, large-scale installation, photography, animation, music, and books.

Shrigley studied Environmental Art at the Glasgow School of Art, graduating in 1991, and has remained deeply connected to Glasgow's art scene throughout his career. Unlike many contemporary artists, Shrigley eschews grand conceptual frameworks, instead embracing a direct, accessible approach that uses humor and visual simplicity to engage with profound themes including death, anxiety, miscommunication, and the banality of everyday existence. His drawings, often created on plain white paper with black ink, feature deliberately awkward execution and misspellings that contribute to their disarming charm and authenticity. This seemingly casual aesthetic belies the sharp wit and keen observational skills that have made Shrigley one of the most distinctive and widely appreciated artists of his generation, bridging the worlds of fine art, illustration, and popular culture.

David Shrigley, Be yourself just be yourself, 2003