The billionaire art dealer Larry Gagosian has announced that he is to sever his relationship with the artist Damien Hirst. Gagosian who owns 12 art galleries globally has represented Mr Hirst for the past 17 years. The Gagosian Gallery had an annual turnover, in 2011 of $925m, according to Forbes magazine. Hirst is the richest artist in the world. He has amassed over £215m and is firmly on The Sunday Times rich list. It is thought that Hirst will continue to sell his own work privately and at auction.
Science Ltd, Hirst’s company made the following statement,“Larry Gagosian and Damien have reached an amicable decision to part company”, adding that the artist would continue his relationship with, Jay Jopling’s White Cube, a London based gallery with branches in Hong Kong and Sao Paulo. Gagosian stated; “It has been a great honour to work with Damien over the last 17 years. We wish him continued success for the future.”
Last year the much anticipated global exhibition, The Complete Spot Paintings 1986-2011 was mounted at the Gagosian Gallery’s eleven locations in New York, London, Paris, Los Angeles, Rome, Athens, Geneva, and Hong Kong. It was one of the most talked about commercial exhibitions of 2012, generating millions.
Damien Hirst was born in Bristol in 1965. He studied Fine Art at Goldsmiths, University of London from 1986 to 1989 and is considered by many to be the leading figure of the group known as “Young British Artists”. The YBAs are characterized by their entrepreneurial spirit, independence and their ability to manipulate the media.Hirst dominated the art scene in Britain during the 1990s. His early career was closely linked with the collector Charles Saatchi, however over the last few years Hirst has distanced himself from this association. Hirst’s work explores the uncertainty at the core of human experience; love, life, death, loyalty and betrayal. His work has been exhibited widely,in Britain, the USA, Australia, and Europe. Work is included in many public and private collections.