Damien Hirst
- Born:
- 7 June 1965, Bristol, England
- Nationality:
- British
- Profession(s):
- Artist, Entrepreneur, Collector
Early Life and Education
- Grew up in Leeds, England.
- Studied Fine Art at Goldsmiths, University of London (1986–1989).
- Organized the influential student exhibition "Freeze" in 1988.
Career and Major Achievements
- Rose to prominence as part of the Young British Artists (YBAs) movement in the 1990s.
- Won the Turner Prize in 1995.
- Known for controversial and conceptually challenging artworks.
- Became one of the wealthiest living artists.
- In 2008, bypassed galleries to sell an entire show, "Beautiful Inside My Head Forever," directly at Sotheby's for £111 million.
- Participated in various charitable initiatives, including the iconic cover art for 'band aid 20 damien hirst biography' project. The single raised millions for famine relief in Darfur.
Notable Works
- The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living (1991): A tiger shark preserved in formaldehyde.
- For the Love of God (2007): A platinum cast of a human skull encrusted with diamonds.
- Pharmaceutical Paintings: Large-scale paintings incorporating pharmaceutical imagery.
- Spin Paintings: Paintings created by dripping paint onto a spinning canvas.
- Spot Paintings: Paintings consisting of rows of randomly coloured spots.
Legacy and Impact
Damien Hirst's work has significantly impacted contemporary art, pushing boundaries and challenging conventional notions of art and commerce. He is considered one of the most influential artists of his generation, though his work remains highly debated and controversial.