David Shrigley, the artist known for his playful line drawings on coasters, mugs and greetings cards, will hold his first solo exhibition in a British public gallery since 2012 at Dulwich Picture Gallery in 2027. The show, running from May 25 to September 5, 2027, will feature never-before-seen works by Shrigley displayed alongside 17th-century Dutch and Flemish paintings.
Exhibition pairs new works with 400-year-old masterpieces
Instead of a standalone display, Shrigley’s pieces will be in dialogue with the old masters, bringing out their comedic side and demonstrating ‘how artists through the ages have used humour to observe everyday life, human behaviour and social interaction’, according to the gallery. The historic works on show include masterpieces by Jan Steen, Adriaen Brouwer, David Teniers the Younger, Adriaen van Ostade, Pieter Brueghel the Younger and Rembrandt van Rijn.
Helen Hillyard, head of collection and exhibitions at Dulwich Picture Gallery, said: ‘Shrigley – like our historic painters – has an instinct for finding the funny side of everyday life. He is the perfect artist to bring back playfulness to the old masters, and remind us that great art doesn’t always need to be serious.’
Shrigley’s playful style meets historic humour
Shrigley’s signature style includes drawings of a pink goose telling viewers to ‘stop panicking’, a blue elephant whose ‘rampage is over’, and an apologetic green raccoon. His work also spans painting, sculpture, filmmaking and photography. The exhibition will highlight how humour has been a consistent thread in art across centuries, according to the gallery.
Dulwich Picture Gallery, located in south London, is the world’s first purpose-built public art gallery. The upcoming exhibition marks Shrigley’s first solo show in a UK public gallery in 15 years, following his 2012 exhibition at the same venue or another public institution.
