Damien Hirst is an English artist born in 1965 and is considered one of the most prominent of the most recent young British artists. He was a frontrunner in the art scene in the 1990s and is internationally known for his controversial art. His main theme is death, and his most famous series of art features dead animals, sometimes cut up into pieces, and is called Butcher Shop.
In 2007, Hirst unveiled a human skull covered in 8061 diamonds totaling 1106 carats. It is estimated that the diamonds, if separated, are worth roughly $30 million. The skull itself is covered in platinum with only the teeth remaining visible. The piece is named For the Love of God, and was sold to an unknown investment group for about $100 million.
There is much speculation about the sale as some say it was not actually sold because Hirst himself may have a large stake in the piece. There is speculation because the sale is essential to Hirst as it will inevitably raise the value of his other work. At the moment the $100 million sale price for For the Love of God is the highest paid for any work of any living artist.
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