Damien Hirst

ALBERTINA MODERN, VIENNA

Damien Hirst is one of the most important artists working today, having achieved international recognition for his paintings, sculptures, and installations. However, the British artist’s drawings are less well known, which the Albertina Modern will now present for the first time in a museum setting. This exhibition offers a fascinating insight into Hirst’s creative processes, starting with drawings and sketches produced from the 1980s onward. These images, many of which were produced in 
preparation for his pioneering works, will be shown together with a selection of related sculptures and paintings. 

A key focus of the exhibition is Hirst’s conceptual approach to drawing which is used in different ways - sometimes as an initial study for a larger piece, sometimes as an autonomous work that stands on its own, and at times as a retrospective exploration of ideas after an artwork’s completion. For many of his most iconic series, he used drawings to articulate ideas he considers as significant as the final artworks themselves.

A major highlight of the exhibition is Hirst’s ambitious project Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable, which blurs the line between reality and fiction while questioning the credibility of art and historical narratives. The exhibition includes a collection of drawings from this project, which adopt the visual language of classical studies and archaeological documentation. Additionally, the exhibition will feature Hirst’s Making Beautiful Drawings installation, originally developed in 1994. This unique work employs a custom-built drawing machine that creates artworks using a spinning disc onto which colours are applied. Visitors to Albertina Modern will have the opportunity to interact with this machine, mirroring the spirit of its original presentation and engaging directly with Hirst’s exploration of chance and process in art.

The exhibition will feature various Spin Drawings, some of which were composed using this drawing machine, exploring Hirst’s fascination with repetition, pattern, and the interplay between control and chance. Alongside drawings, the exhibition will also display a selection of sculptural works from Hirst’s most renowned series including Natural History and Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable, further contextualising his practice across different media.This landmark exhibition at Albertina Modern offers a fresh perspective on Hirst’s artistic vision, shedding new light on the fundamental role of drawing in his work. 

On view from 7 May until 12 October 2025 at the ALBERTINA MODERN.