Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
Hypothalamus Acetone Powder
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Hypothalamus Acetone Powder is a 2012 signed silkscreen on paper, 59 x 53 inches, from an edition of 128 plus 10 artist's proofs. It was given free to visitors who completed the Spot Challenge, visiting all eleven Gagosian locations during Hirst's global exhibition The Complete Spot Paintings 1986–2011.
Collector notes: Edition of 128 plus 10 artist's proofs according to the saved release record. The saved release record describes: signed. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
This print exists as the prize for an unusual participatory event that turned Hirst's spot survey into a worldwide scavenger hunt. Each was signed and dedicated personally to the recipient, tying the work's provenance to a specific act of endurance across eleven galleries, a genuinely uncommon origin story for a Hirst edition.
Collector Perspective
The Spot Challenge origin gives every example a built-in narrative and, often, a personal dedication, which collectors find distinctive. The large 59 x 53 inch scale and small combined edition of 128 plus 10 APs reinforce its rarity. Because it was never sold at issue, market examples trace back to original challenge completers.
Historical Context
The Complete Spot Paintings 1986–2011 spanned all eleven Gagosian galleries worldwide simultaneously, an unprecedented single-artist undertaking. The Spot Challenge print, part of Hirst's spot lineage begun in 1986, commemorates that logistical feat and Hirst's ongoing engagement with scale, systems, and audience participation.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned screenprint
- Release date
- 2012
- 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 59 x 53 inches; Silkscreen on paper.
- Edition details
- Edition of 128 plus 10 artist's proofs according to the saved release record.
- Signature and marks
- The saved release record describes: signed. 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: Read as documented context rather than stated intent: The Complete Spot Paintings 1986–2011 spanned all eleven Gagosian galleries worldwide simultaneously, an unprecedented single-artist undertaking. This is an interpretive reading of the release context, not a statement of the artist's intent for this specific work. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2012 and attributes the edition to Damien Hirst (Self Released). The saved description also notes: Visit all eleven Gagosian Gallery locations during the exhibition The Complete Spot Paintings 1986–2011 and receive a signed spot print by Damien Hirst, dedicated personally to you.
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 Damien Hirst (Self Released). 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
How could someone get this print?
It was awarded free to anyone who visited all eleven Gagosian Gallery locations during The Complete Spot Paintings 1986–2011 and completed the Spot Challenge.
Is it signed?
Yes. Each print was signed and personally dedicated to the recipient by the artist.
What is the edition size?
128 prints plus 10 artist's proofs, silkscreen on paper, 59 x 53 inches.
Was it sold originally?
No. It was distributed free to challenge completers rather than sold, so provenance traces to the 2012 event.
Related Damien Hirst Works
