Damien Hirst and Contemporary Art

Damien Hirst is the most internationally recognised British artist since Henry Moore. His global profile has eclipsed even figures such as Francis Bacon, yet in the United Kingdom his work is often dismissed as provocative spectacle rather than serious art.

This illustrated presentation challenges that perception, positioning Hirst as a rigorous and influential artist whose practice has played a defining role in contemporary art. The talk explores the ideas underpinning his work, its cultural impact, and why Hirst continues to provoke debate decades into his career.

David Worthington's interest in sculpture began at an early age after encountering the work of Barbara Hepworth in a school history book. He graduated from Oxford University in 1984 with a degree in Philosophy and Theology, before studying Fine Art in London, Barcelona and New York. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Sculptors, David served as Vice President from 2010 to 2013 and has completed public art commissions across the United Kingdom, the United States and Japan.