Damien Hirst

Damien Hirst is a British contemporary artist, born on June 7, 1965, in Bristol, England, and raised in Leeds. He rose to prominence in the late 1980s as one of the leading figures of the Young British Artists (YBAs), a group known for their provocative, boundary-pushing works. Hirst studied Fine Art at Goldsmiths College in London, where he curated the now-legendary student exhibition Freeze in 1988—a show that caught the attention of collector Charles Saatchi and helped launch his career.
Hirst’s work explores themes of life, death, religion, and consumerism, often using shocking or unconventional materials. His most famous pieces include The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living (1991), featuring a preserved shark suspended in formaldehyde, and Mother and Child (Divided) (1993), a bisected cow and calf displayed in glass tanks. These works challenge viewers to confront mortality and the fragility of existence while blurring the lines between art, science, and spectacle. Hirst has also created extensive series involving medicine cabinets, spot paintings, and butterfly collages, further developing his signature aesthetic.
Over the decades, Hirst has become both celebrated and controversial for his commercialization of art and entrepreneurial approach. His works are housed in major museums and private collections worldwide, cementing his place as a defining figure of contemporary art.