One of the most popular and successful artists of the present times, Damien Hirst is known for extraordinarily bold creations that often leave the viewers in shock and awe Born in Bristol in 1965, Hirst grew up with a keen interest in drawing and also took classes Later, after working on building sites in London for two years, he enrolled in Goldsmiths College to study Fine Art in 1986 It was during his days here Hirst first encountered success with an independent student exhibition titled Freeze Apart from being the main organiser, he also contributed with a cluster of cardboard boxes painted with household paint Famously visited by influential collectors, including Charles Saatchi and Nicholas Serota, Director of the Tate Museums at the time, this show became an important juncture in the subsequent development of Young British Artists (YBAs), which dominated the art scene in the UK in the 1990s Since the start of his career, the artist was highly influenced by the reality of death, and his intrigue was further exaggerated after working at a mortuary as a student Works by Irish-born British figurative painter Francis Bacon, known for his unnerving imagery, also served as an inspiration in Hirst’s formative years

Hirst's first major creature installation, titled, A Thousand Years, was showcased in one of the two 'warehouse' shows he organised with his artist friends in 1990 A glass cage containing flies and maggots feeding off a cow's head, the work at once both stunned and repulsed the critics After showcasing his works in several group shows, including the Emmanuel Perrotin Gallery in Paris, Damien Hirst had his first solo exhibition titled 'In and Out of Love' in 1991 At the same time, with the support of Charles Saatchi, the first exhibition by Young British Artists was held in 1992