DAMIEN HIRST

DAVID YARROW

Rising to prominence in the early 1990s, Damien Hirst has come to define British modern art. Exploring death and science through his works, Hirst’s art both shocks and amazes. His works are challenging both visually and philosophically and continually push the very definition of art itself. From diamond-encrusted skulls to dissected cows, Hirst’s art is not only iconic but also utilises found objects, both living and dead, in a way that had never been seen. After finding early success at art school and becoming a leading light of the Young British Artists group, Hirst has continued to have a prosperous career and remains a trailblazer of the art world. Born in 1965 in Bristol, Hirst spent his childhood in Leeds. From a young age, Hirst developed a strong interest in the concept of death and continued to explore this throughout his childhood. By his teens, Damien was making regular visits to the anatomy department of Leeds Medical School, practising life drawing and reconciling himself with the idea of his own eventual mortality. In 1984, Hirst moved to London, working in construction before attending Goldsmiths College to study Fine Art. Hirst’s move to the capital marked the beginning of his career, not only because of the work he was making but also because of the people he met for example, Sarah Lucas and Tracey Emin. Hirst has continued to intrigue and astonish throughout his career with diamond encrusted skulls and stained glass windows made from butterfly wings, proving that no medium is out of this artist’s reach. Since 1987, Hirst has had over 80 solo exhibitions and has participated in 260 group shows globally. Hirst continues to be one of the greatest provocateurs in recent art history, redefining everything we thought we knew about art.

DAMIEN HIRST