Damien Hirst Death or Glory Gold Skull Foil Block Signed Rare Edition of 2

Artist: Damien Hirst
Title: Death or Glory
Medium: Two-Color Foil Block on 300gsm Arches 88
Size: 28.25"h x 20.125"w
Year: 2011
Edition: 2/2
Publishers: Paul Stolper, London / Other Criteria, London
Inscription: Signed and numbered on front lower edge '2/2 Damien Hirst'
Documentation: Includes gallery certificate of authenticity

Created in 2011, Damien Hirst's "Death or Glory" exemplifies the artist's enduring engagement with the imagery of the skull—an iconic motif central to his exploration of mortality, value, and the transience of human existence. Executed as a two-color foil block on heavy Arches 88 paper, the work combines stark symbolism with the reflective luminosity of metallic surface, a tension that underscores the artist's fascination with both death and the allure of material opulence.

One of the most striking aspects of this piece is its rarity. Produced in an exceptionally limited edition of only two impressions, "Death or Glory" occupies a unique place within Hirst's printmaking practice, where most editions are significantly larger. This extreme scarcity enhances its significance for collectors and situates it among the most exclusive works in his oeuvre.

The skull, repeated across Hirst's career in works ranging from paintings and prints to the diamond-encrusted For the Love of God (2007), functions as a contemporary memento mori. Here, the foil-block technique lends the form a luminous presence, evoking both the inevitability of death and the allure of luxury commodities. The use of precious surface effects aligns with Hirst's ongoing interest in the intersections of faith, science, and commerce.

This impression is further distinguished by its unbroken record of provenance, available upon request. The combination of rarity, iconic subject matter, and pristine documentation makes "Death or Glory" a quintessential example of Hirst's ability to merge conceptual rigor with striking visual immediacy, reinforcing his role as one of the most influential figures in contemporary art.

About Damien Hirst

Damien Hirst (b. 1965) is one of the most prominent and controversial artists in contemporary art. Known for provocative explorations of mortality, religion, consumer culture, and the commodification of art, he emerged as the leading figure of the Young British Artists (YBAs) in the late 1980s and 1990s.

Born in Bristol and raised in Leeds, Hirst studied Fine Art at Goldsmiths College, London, graduating in 1989. While still a student, he organized the landmark exhibition "Freeze" (1988) in a disused London warehouse, which caught the attention of collector Charles Saatchi and launched the YBAs into the spotlight.

Hirst's early works established enduring themes of death, permanence, and spectacle. His iconic "Natural History" series features animals preserved in formaldehyde within glass vitrines, most famously "The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living" (1991), a tiger shark suspended in blue-green liquid. Other key series include the Spot Paintings—grids of mechanically painted colored dots exploring repetition and order—and the Medicine Cabinets, filled with pharmaceutical packaging that probes the intersection of science, faith, and human fragility.

Hirst has achieved extraordinary commercial success. In 2008, he sold an entire new body of work directly at Sotheby's in "Beautiful Inside My Head Forever", raising over £111 million and setting a record for a single-artist auction. His 2007 sculpture "For the Love of God"—a diamond-encrusted platinum skull with 8,601 diamonds—blends memento mori tradition with luxury glamour.

While celebrated for redefining the artist as both creator and brand, Hirst remains polarizing. Critics question the shock value of his work, the role of assistants in production, and the balance between spectacle and substance. Nevertheless, his influence on late 20th- and early 21st-century art is profound.

Hirst's pieces are held in major collections worldwide, including Tate (London), MoMA (New York), and the Art Institute of Chicago. He continues to challenge boundaries between art, commerce, and culture, cementing his place as a defining figure of his era.