GSA alumnus David Shrigley nominated for Turner Prize

Detail from David Shrigley piece in GSA Archives and Collections Centre
Detail from David Shrigley piece in GSA Archives and Collections

Glasgow School of Art alumnus David Shrigley has been nominated for this year’s Turner Prize, which is to be held at Ebrington in Derry-Londonderry, 2013’s UK City of Culture, in December.  He is shortlisted for his solo exhibition Brain Activity, at London’s Hayward Gallery.  Turner Prize organisers said the exhibition was a “comprehensive overview” that revealed “his black humour, macabre intelligence and infinite jest”.

Detail from David Shrigley piece in GSA Archives and Collections
Detail from David Shrigley piece in GSA Archives and Collections

Shrigley is the ninth GSA graduate to have been nominated for this prestigious prize in the past ten years. Since its inception, there have also been four winners to hail from GSA: Simon Starling, Richard Wright, Douglas Gordon and Martin Boyce.

Shrigley studied Environmental Art at the Glasgow School of Art from 1988 to 1991. Best known for his humorous line drawings, he also makes sculptures, photographs, paintings and animated films. We have one piece by him in our collection from his student days. As you can see, the style and themes are familiar and show similarities with his later works. GSA Library also holds his dissertation.

For more information about this year’s nominees, see the Tate website.

Detail from David Shrigley piece in GSA Archives and Collections Centre
Detail from David Shrigley piece in GSA Archives and Collections
Detail from David Shrigley piece in GSA Archives and Collections
Detail from David Shrigley piece in GSA Archives and Collections