Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) (First Edition)
Summary
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), 2000, is a large Lambda C-type print on Gloss Fuji Archive paper, published by Eyestorm in an edition of 300 and issued signed and numbered. Part of Hirst's pharmaceutical vocabulary, it renders a clinical grid of coloured spots under the sober chemical name of a psychoactive compound.
Why It Matters
Naming a spot composition after LSD is pure Hirst irony: the orderly, pharmaceutical-grade grid stands in deadpan tension with the drug's association with sensory chaos. The work extends his career-long meditation on medicine, belief and mortality, using the language of the laboratory to frame something the culture treats as its opposite.
Collector Perspective
As a signed and numbered edition of 300, this is among the more attainable entry points into Hirst's photographic pharmaceutical works. Buyers should verify the signature, the edition number and that the Lambda print on Fuji Archive gloss is free of surface scuffing or fading, since large glossy C-types show handling readily.
Historical Context
The pharmaceutical motif runs through Hirst's practice, from the Pharmacy installation to the medicine-cabinet works and spot canvases named for chemicals. This Eyestorm edition brought that iconography to a wider audience via online distribution in 2000, a period when the internet was reshaping how contemporary editions reached collectors.
FAQ
Is it signed?
Yes. The Eyestorm edition was issued signed and numbered, in an edition of 300.
What medium is it?
It is a Lambda C-type photographic print on Gloss Fuji Archive paper, not a screenprint.
Why is it named after a drug?
The title belongs to Hirst's pharmaceutical vocabulary, which pairs the clinical name of a chemical with an orderly grid of spots to explore themes of medicine, control and belief.
How does it relate to the spot paintings?
It shares the spot grid language of Hirst's canvases but exists as a photographic edition rather than a hand-painted work.
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.