Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
Two Parrots (Small)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Two Parrots (Small) is a 2012 lithograph published by Other Criteria in a signed and numbered edition of 75, measuring 495 x 380 mm (19 x 15 inches). It reproduces one of Hirst's still-life paintings of exotic birds, part of a body of work he painted from life in his Devon studio.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: Edition of 75. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
This series marks a distinct departure from Hirst's collaborative studio output. Unlike the spot paintings or photorealist works, these bird still lifes are described as more personal, painted directly from life by Hirst himself. The lithograph brings that intimate, hand-painted register to a broader audience while retaining the traditional still-life format.
Collector Perspective
An edition of 75, hand-signed and numbered, sits comfortably in the collectible middle of Hirst's print range. The subject matter, richly coloured parrots, offers a warmer, more figurative alternative to his conceptual pieces. The Small designation indicates a companion large-format version exists, so confirm dimensions and the (Small) qualifier when acquiring.
Historical Context
Hirst has said painting was always central to his practice, and this Devon-studio body of work returns to traditional still life, arranging natural and inanimate elements, sometimes as memento mori, alongside motifs from his earlier sculptures and installations. The exotic birds echo his lifelong interest in the beauty and fragility of the natural world.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned lithograph
- Release date
- 2012
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Lithograph; catalog dimensions 19 x 15 inches; Exquisitely coloured birds on display stands or in simple glass boxes, butterflies, fruit and cherry blossom at the peak of its beauty, intimate the pure joy of spring's transition into summer but also the temporal significance of this natural phenomenon.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: Edition of 75.
- 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: No per-work artist statement is recorded for this edition. Any thematic reading should be treated as interpretation of the imagery, not a documented statement of the artist's intent. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2012 and attributes the edition to Other Criteria. The saved description also notes: Published by Other Criteria.
Authentication, Presentation and Provenance
- Original presentation
- The saved release description references: Exquisitely coloured birds on display stands or in simple glass boxes, butterflies, fruit and cherry blossom at the peak of its beauty, intimate the pure joy of spring's transition into summer but also the temporal significance of this natural phenomenon. Confirm any original sleeve, tube, box, or backing board copy by copy.
- 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 medium and edition?
It is a lithograph published by Other Criteria, signed and numbered in an edition of 75.
What are its dimensions?
It measures 495 x 380 mm, roughly 19 x 15 inches.
How does this work differ from Hirst's spot paintings?
The bird still lifes were painted from life by Hirst personally in his Devon studio, rather than through the collaborative studio process behind the spots.
Does 'Small' mean a larger version exists?
The (Small) designation indicates a companion larger-format edition of the same image.
