The Young British Artists: Shock, Found Objects, and DIY Entrepreneurship

Back in the early '90s, a group of British artists called the Young British Artists (YBAs) really shook things up with their daring art, creative use of everyday objects, and a savvy approach to promoting themselves. This movement kicked off with the Freeze exhibition, which ran from August 6 to September 29, 1988, at Surrey Docks in London. It was put together by Goldsmiths College of Art students like Damien Hirst, Sarah Lucas, Angus Fairhurst, and Michael Landy, with their teacher, Michael-Craig Martin, noting their strong camaraderie. While the YBAs didn't follow one specific style, they often used common items, like Tracey Emin’s provocative piece "My Bed" from 1998. Hirst, the most famous among them, created works with preserved animals and dead butterflies, calling them "sad." They also found unique ways to market their art, such as Emin and Lucas's 1993 project, "The Shop," on Bethnal Green Road, which fused art and business.