Homing

David Shrigley on Anxiety, Absurdity & Ageing Disgracefully

May 21, 2026·56 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

David Shrigley has spent his life creating art that makes people laugh. He is one of Britain’s most recognisable contemporary artists, celebrated for his deadpan drawings that mix humour, bleakness and childlike simplicity.Growing up as a shy, introspective child, on a red-brick estate in the suburbs of Leicester, David was happiest alone with a blank sheet of paper and a pencil – fifty years later, not much has changed.His artworks have an improvised quality, but beneath them lies a surprisingly ordered life. David talks openly about obsessive tendencies – anxiety, control, and the daily routines that keep him grounded. He works a reliable ten-to-six day, and ticks off each drawing as he goes.This is a conversation about the compulsion to make things and the human need to make light of life’s absurdities.A full tour of David’s Brighton studio is available to our Patreon community.Patreon: http://patreon.com/HomingWithMattContact: Web: www.davidshrigley.com Shop: www.shrigshop.com  Email: info@davidshrigley.comTo hear more from us:YouTube: Subscribe to our channel, Homing with Matt, to watch the video versionInstagram: @homingwithmattContact: Email us at hello@mattgibberd.comMatt Gibberd’s book, A Modern Way to Live, is available here: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/320176/a-modern-way-to-live-by-gibberd-matt/9780241480496Music by @simeonwalkermusicIdentity & design by @lena.winkler.creative.office Produced by @podshoponlineThe full visualised tour of David’s studio is available to our Patreon community.Patreon: http://patreon.com/HomingWithMatt ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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