British artist David Shrigley is known for his distinctive drawings that highlight the humor, and banality, of everyday life. Pairing colorful and semi-realistic figures with the classic scrawl of his handwriting, his pieces serve as a sort of social commentary and are well-loved in the art world and at large.
While Shrigley’s drawings are the cornerstone of his artistic success, the artist has comfortably expanded his practice into other mediums, including large-scale installations, sculpture, photography and animation. Most recently, he launched the Mayfair Tennis Ball exchange in London—an interactive installation which asks participants to exchange a brand-new tennis ball for an old one. Regardless of media, his work is always imbued with a sense of play.
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Shrigley has also expanded the subject matter of his art through a variety of intentional partnerships. In 2020, the artist began a collaboration with champagne house Maison Ruinart, which was recently unveiled at Art Basel Miami Beach 2021. After learning about the intricacies of champagne production through a stay at the Maison in France, Shrigley produced a series of new work to commemorate Maison Ruinart’s mission and delicious product. Inspired by the champagne-making process, his “Unconventional Bubbles” installation includes 36 drawings, gouache paintings, three neon installations, two ceramic works and a life-size door installation.
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The collaboration was celebrated via a 300-person fête at the start of Art Basel, allowing guests to mingle amongst life-size renditions of Shrigley’s work, and witness firsthand his interpretation of Maison Ruinart. Partygoers laughed as they interacted with Shrigley’s grape-stomping installation and dodged the absolutely massive inflatable worm towering over the DJ booth.
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Though Shrigley doesn’t “partner with just any company,” he explains, he felt “comfortable working with Maison Ruinart because their product is sustainable: it’s a plant. Other luxury products like sports cars are terrible for the world and the world just does not need any more sports cars. Everybody needs a glass of champagne.”