LONDON – 22 MAY 2025 – Phillips presents highlights from its upcoming Editions auctions in London this June, beginning on 5 June with a standalone live sale dedicated to Damien Hirst , one of the most influential and recognisable artists of the present day. The auction spans key series from across Hirst’s career, representing editions and unique works on paper, at a range of price points. It will be followed by the Evening & Day Editions auctions on 5and 6June, featuring a curated selection of prints and multiples by leading modern and contemporary artists, including Pablo Picasso, Francis Bacon, Banksy, Andy Warhol and William Kentridge, alongside contemporary voices such as Yoshitomo Nara, Grayson Perry and Harland Miller.

Rebecca Tooby-Desmond, Specialist, Head of Sale, Editions, and Auctioneer, said, “We are thrilled to unveil highlights from our June Editions auctions, beginning with a dedicated standalone sale of works by Damien Hirst on 5 June. This auction offers a curated survey of the artist’s most iconic series, from signature spot, spin and butterfly motifs, to vibrant cherry blossoms, including prints in all mediums alongside unique paintings on paper. The momentum continues with our Evening and Day Editions auctions, showcasing adynamic selection of prints and multiples spanning eras and movements, from Banksy’s provocative statements and Warhol’s pop culture icons, including rare to market works from the Endangered Species series, to Picasso’s mythical creatures and celebrated ceramics. We look forward to welcoming visitors to our pre-auction exhibition which opens to the public on 30 May.”

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Damien Hirst Auction | 5 June

Leading the Damien Hirst auction is The Virtues, a standout example of the artist’s celebrated eight-part Cherry Blossom series inspired by Bushidō, the Japanese samurai code of ethics. This series explores the fleeting nature of beauty and the cyclical passage of time through the symbolic life of the cherry tree.

Other notable works featuring Hirst’s iconic blossom imagery include Rejoicing Blossom from his Paper Blossoms series of unique paintings on paper, a vivid work that captures the fleeting beauty of cherry blossoms through expressive use of paint. Rejoicing Blossom explores themes of transience, memory, and emotional intensity.

Also on offer is Exaltation, a monumental tapestry from the artist’s Enter the Infinite (The Visions) series, transforming the chaotic energy of his Spin Paintings into a vibrant, symmetrical, and kaleidoscopic design. Representing Hirst’s signature Spot Painting style is Mickey, are interpretation of the iconic Disney character into simple coloured circles that balance playful abstraction with instant recognisability.

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Evening & Day Editions Auction | 5 & 6 June

Headlining the Evening & Day Editions auction is Flower Thrower Triptych (Grey) (2019, estimate: £100,000–150,000), one of Banksy’s most iconic images, juxtaposing protest and peace in a powerful reflection on resistance and hope.

Also featured is Banksy’s Kate Moss: Original Colourway (2005, estimate: £70,000–90,000), arimagining of Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe portraits that critiques the commodification of fame while nodding to the artist’s own complex relationship with celebrity and anonymity. Pablo Picasso is represented by standout works including Minotaure aveugle guidé par Marie-Thérèse au pigeon dans une nuit étoilée , adeeply personal and politically charged etching from La Suite Vollard, depicting the artist as a blind Minotaur led by his muse through darkness, symbolising both his complex relationship with Marie-Thérèse and the looming turmoil of 1930s Europe.

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Highlights by Andy Warhol include African Elephant from his celebrated Endangered Species series. The present work transforms the majestic animal, using vibrant colours to spotlight both its grandeur and its vulnerability. Blending pop culture with environmental urgency, the work underscores Warhol’s ability to elevate wildlife to celebrity status while confronting the realities of poaching. Additional Warhol highlights include Skulls, and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.

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Further highlights include works by Francis Bacon, William Kentridge, Yoshitomo Nara, Grayson Perry, and Harland Miller.

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(Press Release)