Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
Riot
Summary
Riot 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 depicts pharmaceutical packaging in which the brand name is replaced by the word 'Riot', a term of collective unrest set against clinical design.
Why It Matters
Riot introduces a note of crowd violence into the series' otherwise individual-body vocabulary, broadening the range of force Hirst catalogues across the twelve prints. The composed, orderly packaging holds the disorder implied by the word in tension, a deliberate friction that gives the piece its conceptual charge within the suite.
Collector Perspective
Riot functions as both an individual graphic statement and a member of the collectible set of twelve. In an edition of 150, the ideal acquisition is a signed and numbered impression with crisp registration and unmarked margins. Collectors building the full 'Eat the Rich' run prioritise matched condition and consistent framing across sheets.
Historical Context
Released in 2017 through Other Criteria, Riot belongs to a body of work that, like the Last Supper screenprints, appropriates packaging design to interrogate the medical industry. Hirst's recurring return to pharmaceutical imagery, begun with his Medicine Cabinets, treats the pill packet as a modern emblem of manufactured confidence.
FAQ
What word appears on Riot?
The pharmaceutical brand name is replaced by the word 'Riot'.
What is the medium and edition?
It is a silkscreen in an edition of 150, signed and numbered.
What are its dimensions?
The unframed sheet is 40 by 30 inches, or 1016 by 762 mm.
Which series is it from?
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.