Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
Crash
Summary
Crash is a 2017 silkscreen from Hirst's 'Eat the Rich' series, published by Other Criteria in an edition of 150, signed and numbered, at 40 by 30 inches (1016 by 762 mm). It shows pharmaceutical packaging in which the brand name has been replaced by the word 'Crash', evoking impact and collapse against a backdrop of clinical calm.
Why It Matters
Crash carries connotations of sudden failure, whether physical, medical, or systemic, adding a note of catastrophe to the series' vocabulary of force. Hirst's substitution turns a design built to reassure into a warning, exploiting the disconnect between the packaging's composed minimalism and the violence the single word introduces.
Collector Perspective
Crash reads strongly as an individual sheet and as part of the collectible twelve. In an edition of 150, the ideal is a signed and numbered impression with saturated ink, sharp registration, and undamaged margins. For collectors assembling the suite, matched condition and framing across all twelve sheets underpins the set's cohesion.
Historical Context
Issued in 2017 through Other Criteria, Crash extends the appropriation strategy of the Last Supper screenprints. The series revisits Hirst's Medicine Cabinets fascination with pharmaceutical presentation, using the flat immediacy of screenprint to expose how confidence is engineered through minimalist, corporate-clean design.
FAQ
What does the word 'Crash' replace?
It replaces the pharmaceutical brand name on the mock packaging.
What is the medium and edition?
It is a silkscreen in an edition of 150, signed and numbered.
What are the dimensions?
The unframed sheet measures 40 by 30 inches, or 1016 by 762 mm.
Which series does Crash belong to?
It is part of Hirst's twelve-part 'Eat the Rich' series.
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.