Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
Phendimetrazine (Controlled substances) (First edition)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
A 2012 silkscreen from Damien Hirst's Controlled Substances vocabulary, Phendimetrazine takes its name from a prescription stimulant. Issued through Other Criteria in an edition of 150, it renders Hirst's signature grid of individually placed spots at a generous 70.5 x 118.8 cm, finished with a reflective glaze. It is signed and numbered, and designed to pair with the Controlled Substances Key Spot Print.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: Edition of 150. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
The spot works are the backbone of Hirst's printmaking, and the Controlled Substances group formalizes their pharmaceutical premise most directly. Named after a controlled diet drug, Phendimetrazine literalizes the artist's long dialogue between medicine, desire, and colour. Its designed pairing with the Key Spot Print makes it part of a deliberate collector set rather than a standalone image.
Collector Perspective
At 150, the edition sits mid-range for Hirst spots, and the large horizontal format gives it real wall presence. The glaze rewards in-person viewing but demands careful, glare-aware framing. Collectors should note the intended pairing with the Key Spot Print, and confirm the signature, numbering, and condition of the glazed surface, which can show handling marks more readily than matte paper.
Historical Context
Hirst introduced spot paintings in 1988, governed by the rule that no colour repeats within a work. Other Criteria, his own publishing house, extended that logic into editioned prints. The Controlled Substances series, released around 2012, ties each print explicitly to a named pharmaceutical compound, sharpening the medicine-as-metaphor theme that has run through Hirst's practice for decades.
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 70.5 x 118.8 cm; Silkscreen print with glaze.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: Edition of 150.
- 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: Read as documented context rather than stated intent: Hirst introduced spot paintings in 1988, governed by the rule that no colour repeats within a work. 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 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 is the edition size?
The print was issued in an edition of 150, each impression signed and numbered by Hirst.
Why is it named after a drug?
Hirst titles his spot prints after chemical and pharmaceutical substances; Phendimetrazine is a prescription stimulant, reinforcing the series' medicine theme.
Can it be displayed with another print?
Yes. It was conceived to be shown on its own or paired with the Controlled Substances Key Spot Print.
What is the glaze?
A clear finishing layer applied over the silkscreen that adds gloss and depth; it should be framed to minimize glare and protect the surface.
