Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
3-Methylthymidine
Summary
3-Methylthymidine is a 2015 silkscreen in Hirst's molecular series, produced in an edition of 100 measuring 840 x 687 mm. Signed and numbered and co-published by Other Criteria and Paul Stolper, it renders a nucleoside-derivative structure and finishes it with glaze and diamond dust, converting a biochemical schematic into a shimmering, wall-scaled print.
Why It Matters
Where Methylamine references a simple compound, 3-Methylthymidine points toward the machinery of DNA, deepening the series' meditation on life, replication and mortality. Hirst treats the molecular diagram as a contemporary icon, aestheticizing the invisible chemistry that underpins the body and the pharmaceutical promises he has interrogated throughout his career.
Collector Perspective
This is a companion piece to the other molecular prints and is often collected as part of a set. With 100 impressions signed and numbered, availability is moderate. The diamond-dust surface is the key condition factor; scuffs and dust ingress detract materially. The dual Other Criteria / Paul Stolper imprint is standard for the series and expected on any genuine impression.
Historical Context
The molecular-diagram editions extend a thread running from Hirst's spot paintings, whose titles borrow from chemical catalogues, to his medicine-cabinet sculptures. Published through his own Other Criteria and dealer Paul Stolper in the mid-2010s, they formalized chemistry itself, rather than its packaging, as fine-art subject matter.
FAQ
What does the title reference?
It names a thymidine-derivative compound, tied to the nucleoside chemistry associated with DNA, in keeping with the series' molecular focus.
Is this part of a series?
Yes. It belongs to Hirst's molecular-diagram prints, alongside works such as Methylamine-13c, sharing format, edition size and finish.
What is the print's finish?
Silkscreen with glaze and diamond dust, giving the image a reflective, textured surface.
How is the work authenticated?
Each impression is signed and numbered by the artist and carries the Other Criteria / Paul Stolper publishing attribution.
About the Artist
Damien Hirst (born 1965, Bristol) is a British artist and the most prominent figure of the Young British Artists (YBAs). Rising to fame in the late 1980s and 1990s, he built a practice around mortality, science, religion, and beauty — from formaldehyde-preserved animals to his Spot, Spin, and Butterfly (Kaleidoscope) series. Hirst is also one of the most prolific printmakers in contemporary art, releasing extensive signed editions through his own science-led studio and, more recently, the HENI imprint. His work has commanded record prices and defined the market for blue-chip contemporary editions.
Collecting Damien Hirst at Gauntlet Gallery
Which Damien Hirst prints should I collect?
Signed, numbered editions from his signature series — Spots, Butterflies/Kaleidoscope, Spins, Cherry Blossoms, and skull works — are the collectible core. Look for strong condition and the artist's pencil signature. Gauntlet Gallery prioritizes complete, well-documented impressions.
How is a Hirst print authenticated?
We sell Hirst works with documented provenance and the edition's signature and numbering; many carry HENI or studio documentation. Each piece is photographed exactly as it ships, including signature and edition details.
What drives value?
Series and image (iconic Spots and Butterflies lead), edition size, format and scale, condition, and provenance all drive value. Hand-signed, low-numbered, and diamond-dust or foilblock works command premiums.