From the artist's life
His diamond skull For the Love of God is set with 8,601 diamonds and was reportedly priced at £50 million.
Source: Wikipedia / WikimediaContemporary art
Damien Hirst
Damien Hirst (born 1965) is the most prominent of the Young British Artists and one of the richest living artists. His shark preserved in formaldehyde and his diamond-encrusted skull made him a symbol of art, money and mortality.
Hirst made death and money his central themes, becoming the defining art-world celebrity of his generation.
- A leading Young British Artist, famous for animals preserved in formaldehyde.
- His diamond skull is one of the most expensive contemporary artworks.
- Made death, money and spectacle his signature themes.
Key works
Where to start
Complete list of key works
Works with a dedicated ArtAtlas page are highlighted in gold.
- The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone LivingOn ArtAtlas
- For the Love of GodListed for reference
- VerityListed for reference
- The Anatomy of an AngelListed for reference
- MickeyListed for reference
1991
The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living
Inside is a real tiger shark about four metres long, caught off the coast of Australia.