Damien Hirst (1965) - photo 1

Damien Hirst

Damien Hirst is a seminal figure in contemporary art, well-known for his provocative and often controversial works that explore themes of death, rebirth, and the boundaries of art itself. As a leading member of the Young British Artists (YBAs) in the 1990s, Hirst catapulted to fame with his innovative approach to art that combines the techniques of installation, sculpture, and painting.

Damien Hirst's early career was marked by his organization of the pivotal "Freeze" exhibition in 1988, showcasing his and his peers' work, which caught the attention of influential art collectors. This period laid the groundwork for his signature works, including the 'Natural History' series, where animals such as sharks, sheep, and cows are preserved in formaldehyde, challenging viewers to confront the nature of existence and the inevitability of death​​​​​​.

Among Damien Hirst's most iconic pieces is "The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living," featuring a tiger shark suspended in formaldehyde, and "For the Love of God," a platinum cast of an 18th-century human skull encrusted with 8,601 flawless diamonds. These works exemplify Hirst's exploration of mortality and the commodification of art​​​​​​.

Damien Hirst's 'Spot Paintings' and 'Spin Paintings' further demonstrate his challenge to traditional notions of authorship and the creative process, often involving teams of assistants in their production. These series play with concepts of randomness, control, and the aesthetic joys of color and form, pushing the boundaries of painting as a medium​​.

In 2017, Hirst embarked on "Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable," an ambitious project that filled Venetian museums with artifacts from a fictional ancient shipwreck. This project, blending reality and fiction, invited audiences to question the authenticity and value of art, showcasing Hirst's ongoing interest in storytelling and myth-making within the context of contemporary culture​​.

For collectors and experts in art and antiques, Damien Hirst represents a pivotal figure whose works challenge, provoke, and inspire. His ability to blur the lines between art, science, and commerce has left an indelible mark on the art world, making his pieces highly sought after by collectors around the globe.

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Date and place of birt:7 june 1965, Bristol, United Kingdom
Nationality:United Kingdom
Period of activity: XX, XXI century
Specialization:Artist, Painter
Art school / group:Young British Artists
Art style:Expressionism, Modern art, Conceptual art, Contemporary art

Creators United Kingdom

Winifred Nicholson (1893 - 1981)
Winifred Nicholson
1893 - 1981
Helen Bradley (1900 - 1979)
Helen Bradley
1900 - 1979
Herman Verelst (1641 - 1702)
Herman Verelst
1641 - 1702
Henry Moore (1898 - 1986)
Henry Moore
1898 - 1986
Albert Joseph Moore (1841 - 1893)
Albert Joseph Moore
1841 - 1893
Richard Deacon (1949)
Richard Deacon
1949
Frederick Nash (1782 - 1856)
Frederick Nash
1782 - 1856
Florence Carlyle (1864 - 1923)
Florence Carlyle
1864 - 1923
John Webber (1751 - 1793)
John Webber
1751 - 1793
John Horace Hooper (1851 - 1906)
John Horace Hooper
1851 - 1906
Kenneth Martin (1905 - 1984)
Kenneth Martin
1905 - 1984
Desmond John Morris (1928)
Desmond John Morris
1928
Charles Gore (1729 - 1807)
Charles Gore
1729 - 1807
Matthew Ritchie (1964)
Matthew Ritchie
1964
Bernard Leach (1887 - 1979)
Bernard Leach
1887 - 1979
John Aldridge (1905 - 1983)
John Aldridge
1905 - 1983

Creators Conceptual art

Aleksandr Georgievich Traugot (1931)
Aleksandr Georgievich Traugot
1931
Fritz Quant (1888 - 1933)
Fritz Quant
1888 - 1933
Boris Konstantinovich Orlov (1941)
Boris Konstantinovich Orlov
1941
Zhang Linglin (1933)
Zhang Linglin
1933
Hannah Wilke (1940 - 1993)
Hannah Wilke
1940 - 1993
Laurits Andersen Ring (1854 - 1933)
Laurits Andersen Ring
1854 - 1933
Reinhard Brandner (1938)
Reinhard Brandner
1938
Olle Baertling (1911 - 1981)
Olle Baertling
1911 - 1981
Henri Epstein (1891 - 1944)
Henri Epstein
1891 - 1944
Ryan McNamara (1979)
Ryan McNamara
1979
Jürgen Rose (1937)
Jürgen Rose
1937
Nahum Gutman (1898 - 1980)
Nahum Gutman
1898 - 1980
Egon Schiele (1890 - 1918)
Egon Schiele
1890 - 1918
Juan Carlos Castagnino (1908 - 1972)
Juan Carlos Castagnino
1908 - 1972
 Peter Fischli & David Weiss ()
Peter Fischli & David Weiss
Andrea Carlo Lucchesi (1859 - 1925)
Andrea Carlo Lucchesi
1859 - 1925