Young British Artists
Damien Hirst
The leading figure of the Young British Artists and one of the most recognisable names in contemporary art.
About the artist
Damien Hirst (b. 1965, Bristol) rose to prominence in the 1990s as the most recognisable member of the Young British Artists (YBAs). While studying at Goldsmiths, University of London, he curated the landmark 1988 exhibition Freeze, which first brought the group to wider public attention.
His conceptually driven practice spans installation, sculpture and painting, returning repeatedly to themes of mortality, medicine, belief, value and the systems we build around them. His works are produced by teams of assistants to his exacting specification — a studio model he made visible and, in doing so, made part of the work itself.
He was awarded the Turner Prize in 1995 and has been the subject of major exhibitions worldwide, including a 2012 retrospective at Tate Modern. He remains among the most widely collected and debated artists of his generation.
Key bodies of work
Natural History
Animals preserved in formaldehyde, from the tiger shark of The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living (1991) onwards.
Spot Paintings
Grids of coloured dots executed with mechanical precision, exploring colour, system and authorship.
Spin Paintings
Paint applied to rotating canvases, collapsing the hand of the artist into chance and motion.
Medicine Cabinets
Vitrines of pharmaceuticals arranged as minimalist sculpture — his abiding engagement with medicine and mortality.
For the Love of God
A platinum cast of a human skull set with diamonds, first shown in 2007 and among his most famous single works.
Prints & editions
An extensive body of prints, multiples and editioned works spanning every phase of his career.
At a glance
- Born 1965, Bristol
- Studied at Goldsmiths, University of London
- Curated Freeze, 1988
- Turner Prize winner, 1995
- Major retrospective, Tate Modern, 2012
- Works in major public and private collections worldwide
Works by Damien Hirst are sourced to order.
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