Empresses (Set of 5), 2022

Damien Hirst, one of the most prominent and provocative figures in contemporary art, is known for exploring themes of life, death, beauty, and value through a wide range of media. Rising to prominence in the 1990s as a central figure in the Young British Artists (YBAs), Hirst has continually pushed boundaries with his conceptual work—from medicine cabinets and preserved animals to diamond-encrusted skulls. His practice often juxtaposes scientific precision with emotional and spiritual reflection, and he remains a figure of both critical acclaim and controversy. With a consistent interest in systems of belief and how we assign worth, Hirst’s work frequently blurs the lines between art, commodity, and spectacle.

His 2022 portfolio Empresses (Set of 5) exemplifies this intersection of elegance and commercial scale. Each piece in the series is a laminated Giclée print on aluminum composite, screen printed with glitter—a luxurious and high-impact presentation. Signed and numbered on the label from an edition of 2,814, each 100 × 100 cm work balances mass production with exclusivity, a concept Hirst has long played with. The five prints, named after powerful historical female rulers, celebrate feminine strength and cultural legacy through vibrant color, symmetrical design, and shimmering surface. In Empresses, Hirst reinterprets the portrait not as likeness, but as symbol—allowing form, texture, and material to convey power, grace, and identity.