Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
Beautiful Mickey
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Beautiful Mickey (2015) is a silkscreen published by Other Criteria in an edition of 50, at roughly 136 x 137 cm. Based on an original Hirst painting, it reimagines Mickey Mouse through his spin painting technique, whirling color into a centrifugal burst. It was the first print Other Criteria issued illustrating Hirst's spin method, and each is signed and numbered.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: Edition of 50. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
Beautiful Mickey is significant as Other Criteria's first spin-technique print with Hirst, and it was produced alongside the 2012 Mickey spot painting. Reinterpreting Mickey at Disney's invitation, Hirst joins Warhol, Lichtenstein and Oldenburg in claiming the icon, here through the energetic, chance-driven spin process.
Collector Perspective
The large near-square format and the spin technique set this apart from the spot-based Mickey prints. At an edition of 50, it is a scarce, statement-scale work with a documented Disney tie-in and 'First Edition' status. Collectors weigh its size, technique and pedigree; signing and numbering support provenance.
Historical Context
Hirst's spin paintings, made on a rotating platform so paint flings outward, date to the mid-1990s. Beautiful Mickey applies that method to Disney's character at the studio's invitation, and was fabricated alongside the Mickey spot painting of 2012, linking two of Hirst's signature techniques.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned screenprint
- Release date
- 2015
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Screen Print; catalog dimensions 136 x 137 cm; Silkscreen Print; In the early 90s, he conceived his own series; mechanically revolving canvases whilst applying brightly coloured household gloss paint to their surfaces; Whilst their chance spontaneity stands in contrast to the formulaic spot paintings, both series explore the idea of an imaginary mechanical painter ‘who is always happy'; the results of the Spins are controlled purely by the artist's colour choices and the motion of the machine.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: Edition of 50.
- Signature and marks
- The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Documented History and Meaning
History note: This page treats Damien Hirst's broader career as background context, not proof that this specific edition belongs to any single exhibition or event. Release-level facts here come from a saved secondary catalog record.
Meaning / interpretation: No per-work artist statement is recorded for this edition. Any thematic reading should be treated as interpretation of the imagery, not a documented statement of the artist's intent. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2015 and attributes the edition to Other Criteria. The saved description also notes: Published by Other Criteria.
Authentication, Presentation and Provenance
- Original presentation
- Original packaging or presentation was not documented in the release sources reviewed.
- Authentication note
- Compare the support, dimensions, edition number, and signature against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet Gallery does not authenticate works purchased from third parties.
- Provenance note
- Edition origin is attributed in the saved record to Other Criteria. That does not establish the ownership history of an individual copy: retain the original invoice, reseller or gallery paperwork, labels, correspondence, and condition photographs.
Sources and Verification
Verification status: Secondary catalog snapshot; artist-level context added
- Saved release record — Art Collectorz · secondary catalog snapshot · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Starting record for title, year, edition, dimensions, medium, and release description. Primary confirmation against the original release page remains pending.
- Damien Hirst — official site — Damien Hirst studio (Science Ltd.) · primary artist source · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Official artist site; career context, not an individual-edition record.
- Damien Hirst — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
- Damien Hirst (Q294326) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.
FAQ
What technique does Beautiful Mickey use?
Hirst's spin painting technique, translated into a silkscreen; it was Other Criteria's first spin print with the artist.
Was it authorized by Disney?
Yes, Hirst reimagined Mickey at Disney's invitation, joining Warhol, Lichtenstein and Oldenburg.
How large is the edition?
Fifty, each signed and numbered, published by Other Criteria.
How does it relate to the Mickey spot painting?
It was fabricated alongside the 2012 Mickey spot painting.
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