Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
Benzyloxyurea (First edition)
Summary
Benzyloxyurea is a 2012 woodcut on paper from Damien Hirst, published by Other Criteria in an edition of just 55. At 57.7 x 46.4 cm, it renders the artist's spot motif through carved wood blocks rather than silkscreen, giving the colour spots a distinctive relief-print character. Named after a chemical compound, the print is signed and numbered.
Why It Matters
The woodcut spots are a rarer, more materially expressive strand of Hirst's spot output. Where silkscreens deliver flat, glazed colour, the wood-block process introduces the grain and physicality of relief printing. With only 55 impressions, Benzyloxyurea is markedly scarcer than the screenprinted spots, appealing to collectors focused on process and rarity.
Collector Perspective
An edition of 55 makes this one of the scarcer spot prints, and the woodcut medium sets it apart from the more common silkscreens. The relief surface has a tactile quality collectors of printmaking prize. Verify signature and numbering, and inspect the paper for the subtle impression of the wood block. Its compact size suits intimate or grouped hanging.
Historical Context
Hirst's spot paintings began in 1988 with the rule that no colour repeats within a work. Beyond the familiar silkscreens, Other Criteria produced spot editions in woodcut, a centuries-old relief technique that leaves the character of carved blocks in the print. Titles like Benzyloxyurea maintain the pharmaceutical-chemical naming that threads through the entire spot enterprise.
FAQ
What makes this print different from other spot prints?
It is a woodcut, a relief-print process, rather than the more common silkscreen, and its edition is only 55.
How large is the edition?
Benzyloxyurea was issued in an edition of 55, each signed and numbered.
What does the title refer to?
Benzyloxyurea is a chemical compound; Hirst names his spot works after chemical and pharmaceutical substances.
Why is it scarcer?
At 55 impressions, the woodcut edition is significantly smaller than the 100 to 150 runs of many silkscreen spots.
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.