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Hirst Goes Straight to Auction

Artist eschews galleries and sells new work at Sotheby's

By Dustin Lushing,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 19, 2008 10:36 AM CDT

(Newser) – In recent years, art collectors and auction houses have been reaping the profits of soaring contemporary art prices, while living artists watched with chagrin. Now Damien Hirst has stepped into the fray, bypassing the gallery system and bringing his latest works straight to auction. "It’s a very democratic way to sell art," says Hirst, "and it feels like a natural evolution for contemporary art."

Hirst's pieces, all produced in the last 2 years, will be auctioned off by Sothebys in London this September. The auction, entitled "Beautiful Inside My Head Forever," will include "The Golden Calf," a bull suspended in formaldehyde with a solid gold crown, hooves, and horns. The piece is expected to fetch between $16 million and $24 million.

British artist Damien Hirst.
British artist Damien Hirst.   (AP Photo/Sang Tan)
Artist Damien Hirst posing with a copy of his work.
Artist Damien Hirst posing with a copy of his work.   (AP Photo)
A member of staff holds up an exhibition catalogue showing a picture of a work 'For the Love of God', a platinum skull covered with 8,601 diamonds, by British artist Damien Hirst.
A member of staff holds up an exhibition catalogue showing a picture of a work 'For the Love of God', a platinum skull covered with 8,601 diamonds, by British artist Damien Hirst.   (AP Photo/Sang Tan)
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