Damien Hirst

The minimalist's dream, the large-scale iconic contemporary pop art Vertical 'Spots' IV with multi-color dots by Damien Hirst is one of fifty-five limited edition woodcut prints on Somerset paper, created in 2016. The quintessential bright color palette of never repeating, series unique hues have made the 'Spot Series' an international contemporary art sensation since the early 1980s, when the very first 'Spot Series' work debuted as a part of YBA's (Young British Artist's) 'Freeze'. Each version of the series is totally unique and hand printed with the intent to look mechanical and systematic in execution. Any physical evidence of human intervention – such as the compass point left at the centre of each spot – was removed, until the works appeared to have been constructed “by a person trying to paint like a machine”. For Hirst, it was a departure from years of experimenting with paint and collage, and the first result of his search for a contemporary art form that could succeed without a reliance on “already organized elements”. The iconic 'Spot Series' is one of Hirst's most recognizable themes, as the universally appealing - near perfect symmetry and use of color theory form around Hirst's ideology of the endless possibilities within a minimal and systematic approach. The linear grid formation of vivid candy-colored spots creates the instantly recognizable contemporary art motif that boasts pop art fame and fine art precision. Hirst explains that, “Mathematically, with the spot paintings, I probably discovered the most fundamentally important thing in any kind of art. Which is the harmony of where color can exist on its own, interacting with other colors in a perfect format." Any problems he had previously had with color, Hirst claims, “were removed by the perfect arrangement of complimentary, yet never repeated, colors in the ‘Spots’ series.” The blue chip artwork is signed by the Artist in pencil on the lower front right corner and numbered on verso. The modern and classic 'Spots' artwork arrives ready-to-install in a custom made white lacquer frame, finished with museum caliber UV protective non-glare glass with hooks on reverse. “To create that structure, to do those colors, and do nothing. I suddenly got what I wanted. It was just a way of pinning down the joy of color.” - Damien Hirst

Damien Hirst is a British contemporary master artist and entrepreneur recognized for his iconic artworks that have defined the contemporary art world for over a decade. His varied practice, which includes installation, sculpture, painting, and drawing, explores the complex relationships between life, death, art, religion, and science. Hirst was born in Bristol in 1965 and grew up in Leeds, England. In 1984, he moved to London, where he worked in construction before enrolling at Goldsmiths University of London, in 1986 to study fine art. While at Goldsmiths, Hirst organized the independent student exhibition 'Freeze', which has become legendary as the originating moment of the Young British Artists (YBAs). 'Freeze', which exhibited Hirst’s first spot paintings, launched Hirst and 15 of his fellow students to fame, making their place in art history. In 1991, Charles Saatchi, offering to fund Hirst’s artwork, mounted the first Young British Artists (YBA) exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery in London. Among the works exhibited was 'The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living' (1991), a shark submerged in a formaldehyde vitrine, which became an overnight global sensation. As a result of the show, Hirst was nominated for that year's Turner Prize. Hirst later won the Turner Prize in 1995 for the work, 'Mother and Child Divided'. Known best for his use of symbols, the 'Universal Triggers' utilized throughout his career have instant relatability in connection with universal questions about life, death, love and everything in between. Hirst is well recognized for his spot paintings, medicine cabinet motifs, brightly colored spin paintings, kaleidoscopic butterflies, large-scale sculptural installations and diamond-encrusted skulls. Since 1987, there have been over 80 solo Damien Hirst exhibitions that have taken place worldwide and his work has been included in over 260 group shows. Damien Hirst's impact on the art world has had a similar effect to that of the contemporary masters before him, with similarities to be drawn from the monumental pop art work of Andy Warhol, the street-art sensation installation master Keith Haring, the expressive and vibrant paintings of Jean-Michel Basquiat, and innovative approach of Marcel Duchamp. Damien Hirst continues to work and create art in the present day, with his recent focus primarily on paintings. To learn more about Damien Hirst and see other available artworks, please visit our website: www.artoncontemporary.com