Damien Hirst (1965 - ) Bristol, England

  Damien Hirst, known for his installations, many with medical and pharmaceutical themes, was born in 1965, in Bristol, England. From 1986 to 1989 he studied at Goldsmith's College, University of London receiving a fine art degree. In 1988, while at Goldsmith's he converted an abandoned London Docklands warehouse into an exhibition and curated the Freeze exhibition that featured other young artists.

Hirst gained fame following the controversy of his works addressing: Life and Death. Death represented by real animals, including a real Tiger Shark, a real cow, a real calf, all preserved in formaldehyde. At a 1994 Hirst exhibition titled "Some Went Mad, Some Ran Away", someone vandalized "Away From The Flock" by pouring ink into the formaldehyde preserving a sheep. This "addition" turned the installation into one of the most famous contemporary works in Britain.

Damien Hirst is recognized as part of the Contemporary 'Brit' art scene, but he has had art shown throughout Europe and America.