Damien Hirst

Damien Hirst

ARTIST

For a man whose name has become synonymous with dissected animals in formaldehyde, Damien Hirst has had one of the most extraordinary careers of any British artist of the last few decades. Born in Bristol and bred in Leeds, Hirst originally worked in construction before embarking on a degree in Fine Art at Goldsmiths College. It was with the 1988 ‘Freeze’ exhibition alongside fellow students that Hirst came to public attention, later establishing himself as one of the foremost names of the Young British Artists. Since winning the Turner Prize in 1995, he has gone on to create many more instantly recognisable pieces exploring themes of life, death, science and religion, from spot paintings and butterflies to his diamond-encrusted skull. He is one of the most prominent and internationally-renowned artists of his generation, a title he can continue to exploit when he opens his public gallery in Vauxhall this year.