Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
Transcendent Head
Summary
Transcendent Head is a hand-painted plastic skull finished in household gloss using Hirst's Spin technique, released by Other Criteria in 2014. Standing roughly 17 x 14 x 21 cm, it belongs to an edition of 50 unique multiples spanning three named forms, so no two skulls in the group resolve identically.
Why It Matters
The piece collapses two of Hirst's signature vocabularies into one object: the memento-mori skull and the centrifugal Spin painting. Because each skull is spun individually, the edition is nominally 50 but functionally unique, giving collectors a rare intersection of sculptural multiple and gestural, one-off surface within a single controlled release.
Collector Perspective
Collectors weigh this as an object rather than a wall print: it occupies a shelf, reads in the round, and carries the tactile density of gloss on plastic. The unique-within-edition status means condition and the specific swirl pattern matter more than a simple edition number, so close inspection of the painted surface is worthwhile.
Historical Context
The skull has recurred across Hirst's career, most famously in the diamond-encrusted For the Love of God (2007). The Spin method, which he has used since the mid-1990s, applies paint to a rotating form. Transcendent Head folds both threads back into his signature, published through his own Other Criteria imprint.
FAQ
Is each Transcendent Head identical?
No. The work is a unique multiple within an edition of 50. The Spin technique produces a distinct paint pattern on every skull, so each example varies even within the same named category.
What is it made of?
Household gloss paint applied to a plastic skull, worked using Hirst's Spin painting method. It is a three-dimensional object, not a print.
Who published it?
Other Criteria, Hirst's own publishing and editions company, released the edition in 2014.
How does it relate to the skull motif?
It draws on Hirst's long-running memento-mori skull imagery, reworked here as a painted sculptural multiple rather than a flat image.
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.