Valentines Day: From Damien Hirst, With Love

Through the years of formaldehyde predators and planet-hopping paintings, we’ve learned to not anticipate the adventurous antics of artist Damien Hirst, but rather, to simply take them as they come. With LOVE, the artist’s pop-up exhibition at the Paul Stolper Gallery in London, the artist proves ever further that when it comes to his work, it's best to expect the unexpected: the new, chromatic collection of prints and sculptures is an iconographic ode to the schoolyard days of bulk, store-bought sweethearts, and sugar-crusted Valentines.

The exhibition itself comes in two parts: LOVE Gold, out now, and LOVE Silver, which will be released in June. Hirst’s first installment, hearkens back to the artist’s 2007 spin art paintings, encasing color-blocked butterflies in silkscreened and gold-leafed hearts. Taking viewers on a visual sugar bender, the collection also includes three sculptures: a bow-pierced heart suspended in a sweets jar, and two “heart pills” in pink and red that bear the sugary inscription “♡ YU 4 EVA.” As if flutter bugs, golden hearts, and sculpted sweets weren't enough, each of Hirst prints are titled with the same three words: I Love You.

With the dreaded date of the year’s most exaggerated Hallmark holiday approaching, and without any romantic prospects in sight, we're thankful, at least, that Damien Hirst will be our Valentine.

Find out about Paul Stolper exhibitions on the gallery’s website.

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