Damien Hirst

Damien Hirst was born on June 7, 1965, in Bristol, England. He grew up in Leeds and attended the Jacob Kramer College of Art, followed by Goldsmiths, University of London. Hirst would later become one of the most prominent figures in the Young British Artists movement, gaining fame for his controversial and thought-provoking works that often explore themes of life and death. His career spans various media, including installation, sculpture, painting, and drawing.

In 1991, Damien Hirst created one of his most famous works, 'The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living,' which featured a 14-foot tiger shark suspended in formaldehyde within a vitrine. This work became emblematic of the Young British Artists and captured the public's imagination, sparking debates about the nature of art and death. This iconic piece is a defining work of Hirst's career, exemplifying his fascination with mortality and the natural world.

Hirst won the prestigious Turner Prize in 1995, an annual prize presented to a British visual artist under 50. The award brought him increased attention and recognition, cementing his status as a leading figure in contemporary art. The Turner Prize is known for being somewhat controversial, which suited Hirst's provocative style. His win showcased works that continued to explore the darker themes he is known for, adding to his public notoriety.

In 2004, Damien Hirst inaugurated the Science Gallery in London, which was part of his mutual art space project. This gallery was unique in that it was designed to combine art and science, reflecting Hirst's interests in exploring themes that bridge the two disciplines. The gallery showcased a range of artworks, including many by Hirst himself, and aimed to provide a space where art and science could coexist and inspire each other, a theme central to much of Hirst's work.

Hirst created 'For the Love of God,' a platinum cast of a human skull encrusted with 8,601 diamonds, including a large pink diamond in the center of the forehead. It was unveiled in 2007 and became one of the most expensive contemporary artworks ever, initially priced at £50 million. The piece is a commentary on mortality and the value of art, themes recurring in Hirst's work. Its shocking opulence and craftsmanship stirred considerable media attention and debate.

In September 2008, Hirst bypassed the traditional gallery system to auction a complete show of his new pieces directly through Sotheby's in London, titled 'Beautiful Inside My Head Forever.' The unprecedented auction raised £111 million, setting a record for a single-artist auction. This direct-to-auction strategy was a significant move in the art world, challenging traditional models for how art is sold and displayed, and demonstrated Hirst's influence and ingenuity as both artist and marketer.

In 2012, the Tate Modern in London held a comprehensive retrospective of Damien Hirst's work, featuring more than 70 pieces spanning his career. The exhibit included iconic works such as 'The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living' and 'For the Love of God.' It attracted over 300,000 visitors, making it one of the most attended solo shows in the museum's history. The retrospective highlighted Hirst's impact on contemporary art and his exploration of life, death, and beauty.

In 2017, Hirst launched 'Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable,' an ambitious project presented across two locations in Venice: Palazzo Grassi and Punta della Dogana. This exhibition, a decade in the making, featured a collection of 'artefacts' supposedly recovered from a fictional shipwreck. The elaborate show blurred the lines between reality and fiction, drawing both admiration and criticism for its scale and audacity, further cementing Hirst's reputation for creating provocative art experiences.

In 2018, news emerged that restrictions on Hirst dissolving art foundation funds were lifted. He had previously faced a ban on dissolving foundation assets after his company Science Ltd overstated the amount of art it sold in earlier years. The lifting of the ban allowed him to regain financial flexibility, which was crucial for managing his assets and future projects. This was a significant development in his career as it directly impacted his business operations and financial management of his works.

In 2021, Damien Hirst launched 'The Currency,' his first major NFT (Non-Fungible Token) project. It consisted of 10,000 unique spot paintings, each with a corresponding NFT, exploring the concept of value in art by questioning the worth of digital versus physical assets. The project allowed buyers to choose between keeping the NFT or exchanging it for the physical painting. This innovative project highlighted Hirst's interest in the intersection of technology and art, keeping him at the forefront of contemporary art discussions.