Ponti Art Gallery is interested in buying and selling works
of art by this artist.
Damien Hirst Biography
Damien Hirst is an English artist, entrepreneur, and art collector, widely recognized as one of the most controversial and influential artists of his generation. Born Damien Steven Hirst on June 7, 1965, in Bristol, England, he grew up in Leeds and later moved to London to pursue his artistic career. Hirst's work is often characterized by its exploration of the themes of life, death, science, and religion, often through the use of unconventional materials and methods that challenge traditional notions of art.
Hirst's journey into the art world began at Goldsmiths College in London, where he studied from 1986 to 1989. It was during his time at Goldsmiths that Hirst curated the groundbreaking student exhibition "Freeze" in 1988, held in a disused London warehouse. This exhibition is widely credited with launching the careers of Hirst and his contemporaries, who would later be known as the Young British Artists (YBAs). The YBAs dominated the UK art scene in the 1990s with their entrepreneurial spirit and their often provocative works.
In 1991, Hirst had his first solo exhibition at the Woodstock Street Gallery, entitled "In and Out of Love," where he filled the gallery with live tropical butterflies, some emerging from monochrome canvases. This exhibition set the tone for Hirst's career, which would be marked by a fascination with the natural processes of birth, decay, and death.
Hirst's work gained significant attention for its shock value, particularly his series of artworks featuring dead animals preserved in formaldehyde. The most famous of these is "The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living" (1991), which features a 14-foot tiger shark suspended in a clear tank of formaldehyde. This piece, commissioned by the British art collector Charles Saatchi, sold for a reported $12 million and became an iconic work of British art in the 1990s.
Throughout his career, Hirst has experimented with various artistic forms, including his "spot paintings," composed of rows of randomly colored circles, and "spin paintings," created on a spinning circular surface. These works are often produced with the help of assistants, a practice that has sparked debate about the nature of artistic production and authorship.
In addition to his work with natural specimens, Hirst has also created medicine cabinet sculptures, filled with pharmaceuticals, and installations that include cigarette butts and surgical instruments, often encased in glass vitrines. These works question the role of medicine and the pharmaceutical industry in society, as well as the human desire to control life and death.
Hirst's approach to art is also marked by his engagement with the art market. In a move unprecedented for a living artist, Hirst sold a complete show, "Beautiful Inside My Head Forever," at Sotheby's by auction in 2008, bypassing traditional galleries. The auction raised £111 million, breaking the record for a one-artist auction.
Despite his commercial success, Hirst's work has not been without controversy. He has faced accusations of plagiarism and has been involved in several legal disputes over the originality of his work. Nonetheless, Hirst has remained a prominent figure in the art world, with his works featured in solo and group exhibitions worldwide, including major retrospectives at the Tate Modern in London.
Hirst's influence extends beyond the gallery space. He has written books, designed restaurants, collaborated on music projects, and experimented with film. His entrepreneurial ventures and his Newport Street Gallery in London, where he exhibits his personal art collection, further demonstrate his multifaceted engagement with the world of art.
Damien Hirst's art continues to provoke and inspire, raising questions about the value of art, the commodification of the art market, and the eternal human concerns with life, death, and what lies beyond.
Damien Hirst Quotes and Sales
of Works
Ponti Art Gallery selects and deals with paintings by the
artist. Upon request, we provide free estimates and
evaluations, communicate prices, quotations, and current
market values.
If you are interested in BUYING or SELLING works by the
artist, contact us immediately.
If you wish to sell or receive an evaluation of the
works:
Send us a frontal photo of the painting, one of the back,
and one of the signature. Also, indicate the dimensions of
the work. Inform us about the purchase origin of the work
and any kind of available documentation (purchase
receipts, certificates of authenticity, publications). One
of our operators will respond to you on the same day. We
guarantee maximum confidentiality and extreme
professionalism.
If you wish to purchase works by the painter: Contact us
and let us know your request. We will inform you about the
available works. We also offer the possibility to
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