Damien Hirst’s London Museum Will Open Spring 2015

Damien Hirst.
Photo: © 2014 Patrick McMullan Company, Inc.

What does a world famous, top-selling contemporary artist collect? Why, other world famous, top-selling contemporary artists of course!

According to a report in the Art Newspaper, British artist Damien Hirst, whose “Murderme” collection includes works by Jeff Koons, Richard Prince, Francis Bacon, Angela Bulloch, Jim Lambie, and Sarah Lucas, will open a sprawling art complex in London next spring. The as yet unnamed complex (may we suggest “Haus der Hirst”?) was initially scheduled to open this year, but will take longer to complete, a spokeswoman for Hirst’s company, Science Ltd., tells Gareth Harris.

The art center, a former theater and scenery production workshop, is designed by Caruso St John Architects, and runs the length of Newport Street in Vauxhall. When completed, the space will host galleries, offices, and a resaturant.

Hirst announced plans for the venue in early 2012 and said it will provide a place to show his collection of contemporary art. He plans to hire a collection and exhibitions manager who will be based at the Newport Street complex. In 2010, Hirst was among the unsuccessful bidders to take over the Magazine Building, a 19th century structure in Kensington Gardens, which reopened last year as the Serpentine Sackler Gallery after its conversion by Zaha Hadid Architects.

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