Spot On

Damien Hirst's spot paintings appear fairly frequently on the pages of shelter magazines, but an article in the June 11, 2013 edition of the New York Times notes that the exact number of these works, which can cost as much as $3.4 million, has been unknown for some time. Journalist Graham Bowley writes that "Mr. Hirst has said he painted the first few dozen. The others he left mainly to a coterie of assistants, who, it seemed, could make them ad infinitum." So how many spot paintings currently exist? Damien Hirst and his publisher, Other Criteria, will release a book in the fall that will catalog the 1,365 spot paintings they claim as authentic. Some critics decry the mass produced nature of the works, while Hirst owners, such as Knoll executive Andrew Cogan, don't mind the vast number of spot paintings in existence. According to Bowley's article, Cogan's painting "reminds him of the dot candy on paper sheets he used to enjoy as a child."

Too many spots, or legitimate candy-colored works of art? Take a look at some of Damien Hirst's work, including his butterflies, and decide for yourself . . .

"Damien Hirst's 1997 acrylic 'Caesium Carbide 89' is the focal point of another part of the living room. The 1940s French walnut armchair is from Lorin Marsh. On the low table is a 1920s Japanese silver vase, from Naga Antiques."

A New York couple's 4,000-square-foot duplex in a Georgian revival building on Park Avenue.

Interior design by Douglas S. Wittles.

Photography by Durston Saylor.

Text by Wendy Moonan.

"Urbane Renewal in Manhattan"

Architectural Digest (January 2008).

"In the family room, a Damien Hirst painting is displayed against a woven-paper wall covering by Kneedler-Fauchere; the custom-made club chair is upholstered in a Clarence House linen, and the pillow is covered in a Schumacher print. The Tibetan goat pouf is from Calypso Home, and the zebra-skin rug is from Patterson, Flynn and Martin."

Apartment in prewar Park Avenue building.

Interior design by David Kleinberg, David Kleinberg Design Associates.

Photography by Eric Piasecki.

Text by Mitchell Owens.

"Finish Line" produced by Carlos Mota.

Architectural Digest (June 2011).

Art, Damien Hirst.

Miami Beach condominium.

Interior design by Luis Bustamante.

Photography by Miguel Flores-Vianna.

Written by Mario Lopez-Cordero.

"Miami Modern" produced by Pilar Crespi.

Veranda (November - December 2011).

Art, Damien Hirst.

Miami Beach condominium.

Interior design by Luis Bustamante.

Photography by Miguel Flores-Vianna.

Written by Mario Lopez-Cordero.

"Miami Modern" produced by Pilar Crespi.

Veranda (November - December 2011).

Small castle in the Netherlands outside Eindhoven that is home to Daniel Beauchemin and Marc de Laat.

"Empire-style chairs surround an 18th-century table in the kitchen; the prints are by Julian Schnabel, top, and Damien Hirst."

Photography by Eric Piasecki.

Text by Gisela Williams.

"Going Dutch" produced by Anita Sarsidi.

Elle Decor (May 2012).

"A Damien Hirst etching hangs above a Dunbar sofa in the library; the 1970s brass Mastercraft cocktail table and burl-wood-and-brass cabinet were found on eBay, the folding screen is custom made, the hand-woven rug is from Wunderley, and the walls are covered in a faux-bois wallpaper."

Manhattan apartment of stylist and editor Jackie Astier.

Photography by Eric Piasecki.

Styled by Anita Sarsidi.

Text by Kathleen Hackett.

"Perfect Pitch" produced by Tamzin Greenhill.

Elle Decor (March 2012).

"Texture adds warmth and interest to neutral furnishings in this modern space. Prints over sofa by Damien Hirst."

Designer: Sally Healy.

Photography by Robert Lemermeyer.

Canadian House and Home.

"Workers installing 'Bromonucleic Acid,' one of Damien Hirst's spot paintings, at the Gagosian gallery in New York last year."

Photo: Librado Romero/The New York Times.

"Hirst Counts the Dots, or at Least the Paintings" by Graham Bowley.

New York Times (June 11, 2013)

Butterfly art by Damien Hirst in a Palm Beach project by

architect Peter Marino. Table by the Lalannes.
Photo credit: Jason Schmidt.
"The Renegade"
Text by Matt Tyrnauer.
Architectural Digest (January 2012).

A closer view of the butterfly art by Damien Hirst in a Palm Beach project by
architect Peter Marino.
"The Renegade"
Photo credit: Jason Schmidt.
Text by Matt Tyrnauer.
Architectural Digest (January 2012).

Butterfly art by Damien Hirst.
Manhattan apartment of Nina Bauer, Andrew Shapiro and their children.
Interior design by Penny Drue Baird.
Architect: David Ruff of Design Laboratories.
Text by Dan Shaw.
Photography by Simon Upton.
"Calm, Cool, Collected" produced by Howard Christian.
Architectural Digest (May 2011).

"A colossal 2003 Damien Hirst butterfly painting, Another Amazing Transcendental Experience, and a circa-1950 Jansen palm-tree floor lamp from Maison Gerard greet visitors in the entry hall."
New York City apartment of Daphne Guinness.
Design by architect Daniel Romualdez.
Photography by Thomas Loof.
Styled by Carolina Irving.
"In Her Fashion" written and produced by James Reginato.
Architectural Digest (March 2011).

"The centerpiece of the game room is a Damien Hirst butterfly painting; between the '60s Hugues Steiner chairs is a table by Jean-Marie and Marthe Simonnet."

Greenwich, Connecticut, Colonial Revival home of Allison and Warren Kanders.

Interior design by Joe Nahem, Fox-Nahem Associates.

Architect: Alveary Architecture.

Photography by Simon Upton.

Text by Dan Shaw.

"Seismic Shift" produced by Michael Reynolds.

Architectural Digest (June 2013).

"A dressing room. lined with wallpaper by Damien Hirst, in one of Louis Vuitton's Shanghai boutiques."

Design by architect Peter Marino.

"The Renegade" text by Matt Tyrnauer.

Architectural Digest (January 2012).

"In the den, a Minotti sofa has pillows covered in a Le Manach ikat; the pendant light is by Hans Wegner, the stool is by Herve Van der Straeten, and the rug is by Fort Street Studio. The artwork includes a large Anne Collier photography, a Damien Hirst butterfly lithograph, and a print series by Wangechi Mutu."

Interior design by Tamzin Greenhill.

Photography by William Abranowicz.

Text by Ingrid Abramovitch.

"Heeding the Call: Tamzin Greenhill's Manhattan Apartment" produced by Anita Sarsidi.

Elle Decor (March 2013).

"In the living room, a painting by Sally King Benedict, a cocktail table by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne, a floor lamp by Karl Springer, and vintage Jansen stools upholstered in a silk velvet from Stark; 18th-century Italian armchairs flank a [skull] print by Damien Hirst, and the brass palm tree is 19th-century."

Manhattan apartment of Ashley Stark, creative director of Stark.

Photography by Eric Piassecki.

"A Fresh Outlook" by Kathleen Hackett.

Elle Decor (December 2011).

"[Damien] Hirst screen prints bring shots of color and culinary wit to the white kitchen; the floor is wide-plank American black walnut, finished with tung oil, and the walls here and throughout the townhouse are painted in Select Collection 9100 by Fine Paints of Europe."

Interior design by Tony Ingrao and Randy Kemper.

Architect: Frederic Schwartz, Frederic Schwartz Architects.

Photography by Nikolas Koenig.

Text by Leslie Bennetts.

"Donny Deutsch's Modern New York City Townhouse" produced by Howard Christian.

Architectural Digest (October 2011).

Art (Medicine Cabinet) by Damien Hirst.

Game table, Rose Tarlow Melrose House.

Chairs, Ralph Lauren Home.

Interior design by Richard Hallberg.

Architecture by William Hablinksi.

Written by Linda Sherbert.

"Oasis of Artistry" photographed and produced by Miguel Flores-Vianna.

Veranda (September 2011).

"One side of the living room features a medicine cabinet by Damien Hirst over the sofa; the bergeres are covered in Sahco and Nancy Corzine fabrics."

Interior design by Tony Ingrao and Randy Kemper.

Architect: Frederic Schwartz, Frederic Schwartz Architects.

Photography by Nikolas Koenig.

Text by Leslie Bennetts.

"Donny Deutsch's Modern New York City Townhouse" produced by Howard Christian.

Architectural Digest (October 2011).

"[Marjorie] Shushan imbued the master bedroom with a 'bright, sensual ambience' and used etageres, from Paul Ferrante, 'as a way of bringing a sense of architecture to the space.' A 2002 Damien Hirst etching hangs on a wall. Bedcovering and side chair fabric, Cowtan and Tout. Fabric on sofa and club chair, Great Plains. Outdoor sofa and table, Janus et Cie."

Interior design by Marjorie Shushan.

Landscape architecture by Mario Nievera Design.

Photography by Dan Forer.

Text by Michael Frank.

"Finding the Light in Bal Harbour"

Architectural Digest (December 2007).