Artist David Shrigley selling piles of old rope for $1.3M

British artist David Shrigley has opened a new exhibition at Stephen Friedman Gallery in London featuring 10 tonnes of discarded rope piled in four enormous mounds, with a £1 million price tag that serves as a literal interpretation of the idiom "money for old rope"theartnewspaper+1.
The installation, titled "Exhibition of Old Rope," was created over seven months by collecting rope from seaports, climbing schools, offshore wind farms, and UK shorelines, all of which was cleaned at Shrigley's studio before being installedtheartnewspaper+1.
Shrigley describes the £1 million asking price as both a provocation and justification, arguing that "by weight, it's actually very good value" compared to other contemporary artworks, though he admits he would be surprised if someone bought itmyleaderpaper+1.
The work addresses both art market values and environmental concerns, as the synthetic polyester and nylon rope is notoriously difficult to recycle and contributes to an estimated 640,000 tonnes of discarded marine rope entering oceans annuallytheartnewspaper+1.

British artist David Shrigley opened "Exhibition of Old Rope" at Stephen Friedman Gallery in London on Thursday, featuring four enormous piles of discarded rope with a £1 million price tag—a literal interpretation of the idiom "money for old rope" that serves as his most direct commentary yet on contemporary art market values.theartnewspaper+2

The installation, marking Shrigley's ninth solo show with the gallery after nearly three decades of collaboration, fills the Cork Street space with 10 tonnes of reclaimed maritime and industrial rope collected over seven months from seaports, climbing centers, offshore wind farms, and shorelines across the UK. A bright orange neon sign in the gallery window announces the exhibition title in Shrigley's distinctive handwriting, mimicking commercial signage while undermining traditional gallery aesthetics.stephenfriedman+2

Market Provocation Amid Shifting Values

Shrigley describes the £1 million asking price as both provocation and justification. "By weight, it's actually very good value," he told reporters, noting that collectors "are not going to get an awful lot of art for a million pounds, but 10 tonnes, I think, represents quite good value for money". Gallery owner Stephen Friedman told the BBC the work could go to a private collection, institution, or foundation, adding, "We will find a good home for it".myleaderpaper+2

The timing positions Shrigley's work within a recalibrating art market. While Maurizio Cattelan's duct-taped banana "Comedian" sold for $6.2 million at Sotheby's in November 2024, the broader contemporary art market saw sales fall to $65 billion in 2024, down 4% from 2023, according to the Art Basel & UBS Art Market Report released in April 2025.artsy+2

Environmental Subtext and Artistic Precedent

Beyond market commentary, the installation addresses environmental concerns. The rope—primarily synthetic polyester and nylon from the UK's centuries-old rope-making tradition—is notoriously difficult to recycle, contributing to an estimated 640,000 tonnes of discarded fishing gear and marine rope entering oceans annually. All collected rope was treated and cleaned at Shrigley's Brighton studio before installation.wallpaper+4

The Turner Prize-nominated artist, known for his deadpan humor and self-deprecating work, previously created "Really Good," a seven-meter bronze thumbs-up sculpture for London's Fourth Plinth in 2016. "The work exists because I'm interested in the value people place on art, and the idiom gave me an excuse to explore that," Shrigley stated.stephenfriedman+4

The exhibition runs through December 20, 2025, with free public admission.plataformamedia+1

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