Damien Hirst

As one of Britain's most controversial contemporary artists, Damien Hirst both inspired and shocked with his provocative paintings, sculptures, and exhibitions. While attending Goldsmiths College, Hirst challenged the status quo with two definitive art series, "Medicine Cabinets" and "Freeze," both of which were praised by faculty members and students, thus signaling the young Hirst as a promising young talent to watch. Then in 1991 Hirst debuted what would become his most talked-about art series, "Natural History," which featured embalmed creatures in large containers made of glass and steel. The series made him an overnight celebrity among Britain's art world elite and by the latter part of the decade, Hirst had risen to become of the most famous contemporary artists in Britain. In addition to his art work, Hirst also dabbled in film directing, having helmed two short films, "Hanging Around" (1996) and "Live Forever" (2003), as well as a music video for the British pop band Blur. Having already made a name for himself in the British art world, Hirst was officially recognized in 2012 with a major retrospective at London's famed art gallery, Tate Modern, thus forever enshrining his place in history as one of the most important contemporary British artists of his era.