Damien Hirst Splits With Business Manager Frank Dunphy

Frank Dunphy, the man behind Damien Hirst’s financial/art world domination, is stepping down as his business manager. Dunphy was active during Hirst’s most prolific period of output and helped mastermind ambitious projects including the record-breaking $127 million 2008 Sotheby’s auction, “Beautiful Inside My Head Forever” and the infamous diamond studded skull. Dunphy will remain on the board of directors of Hirsts Company and as a consultant until retiring at the end of the year. He will be succeeded by James Kelly,who joins Hirst Holdings after more than 20 years as a senior partner at international accountancy and tax advisory firm, Rawlinson & Hunter.

Successful Artists in the league of Damien Hirst,Jeff Koons and Anish Kapoor have flourished in the 21^st century.They have become less dependent on their galleries and more reliant on business managers,who transform them into self-contained corporations in their own right.

('Photo:The Elton John of the Art World' 2009 © PC Robinson ArtLyst )