Damien Hirst: Five Works That Define His Controversial Career
Born in Bristol in 1965, Damien Hirst is a contentious figure in the British art scene, emerging from the 1990s Young British Artists collective. He attended Goldsmiths, University of London, where he curated the pivotal 1988 exhibition 'Freeze'. Among his prominent creations are 'A Thousand Years' (1990), 'The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living' (1991), 'Spot Paintings' (1986–ongoing), 'For the Love of God' (2007), and 'Cherry Blossoms' (2018–2021). Hirst’s work delves into the intersections of life, death, and beauty, often merging scientific concepts with artistic expression. He has collaborated with major galleries and pursued various business initiatives, including an art foundation and a publishing house, continually redefining art and mortality.
Key facts
- Damien Hirst was born on June 7, 1965, in Bristol, England.
- He studied at Goldsmiths, University of London from 1986 to 1989.
- In 1988, he organized the 'Freeze' exhibition, marking the emergence of the Young British Artists.
- Charles Saatchi became a significant patron of Hirst's work.
- Hirst has been represented by Gagosian and White Cube galleries.
- 'A Thousand Years' (1990) includes a rotting cow's head and flies.
- 'The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living' (1991) features a tiger shark in formaldehyde.
- 'For the Love of God' (2007) is a platinum skull with 8,601 diamonds.
- The 'Spot Paintings' series began in 1986 and includes 'The Currency' with 10,000 NFTs.
- 'Cherry Blossoms' (2018–2021) are large-scale paintings influenced by Abstract Expressionism.
Entities
Artists
- Damien Hirst
Institutions
- Goldsmiths, University of London
- Gagosian
- White Cube
- PETA
- Young British Artists
Locations
- Bristol
- England
- Leeds