Damien Hirst (British, b. 1965)
Phendimetrazine (2011)
Medium: Screenprint in colors with glazes on Somerset Tub Sized paper
Dimensions: 71 x 119 cm (28 x 47 in)
Edition: 150
Details: Signed in pencil, numbered, unframed. Published by Other Criteria, London.
Price: On request
Artwork Analysis
Phendimetrazine forms part of Damien Hirst’s iconic “Pharmaceutical” or “Spot Paintings” series, which has become one of the artist’s most recognized and enduring bodies of work. This print takes its name from a prescription stimulant, reinforcing Hirst’s fascination with the intersection of science, medicine, and human experience.
The work presents a precise arrangement of multi-colored dots, evenly spaced yet individually distinct in hue. Their systematic order references both the cold rationality of pharmacology and the aesthetic pleasure of chromatic variation. Each dot is unique, and yet no color is repeated within a single composition—a nod to the paradox of order and randomness that underpins Hirst’s approach.
The glazed finish adds a subtle luminosity to the surface, enhancing the sense of purity and clinical precision that defines the series. At once playful and rigorous, Phendimetrazine bridges minimalism, pop art, and conceptual practice.
Context Within Hirst’s Oeuvre
The Spot Paintings originated in 1986 and quickly became central to Hirst’s artistic identity. By naming each work after a specific chemical compound, Hirst anchors the series in the language of pharmaceuticals—commenting on modern society’s dependence on drugs for healing, enhancement, and escape.
While the paintings were often executed by Hirst’s assistants according to strict guidelines, the print editions—produced in collaboration with Other Criteria—allowed these works to reach a broader collecting audience while retaining the conceptual rigor of the originals.
Phendimetrazine exemplifies the series’ enduring appeal: a balance between scientific order and visual delight, between life’s fragility and humanity’s relentless quest for control through medicine.
Market Context
Hirst’s Spot Prints are among the most widely collected works in his graphic output, with demand driven by their iconic status and wide recognition across the contemporary art world.
- Editions of this scale (71 x 119 cm) from the early 2010s remain particularly desirable, as they capture the ambition of the larger paintings while remaining accessible within the print market.
- Prices vary depending on edition size, condition, and market timing, but comparable works in the 150-edition range have performed steadily at auction, reflecting their importance in Hirst’s oeuvre.
- As part of the Pharmaceutical series, Phendimetrazine resonates with collectors drawn to Hirst’s exploration of mortality, science, and aesthetic systems.
This print represents an opportunity to acquire one of the artist’s most recognizable series—an edition that continues to embody Damien Hirst’s ability to merge conceptual clarity with visual vibrancy.
