Damien Hirst (born 1965) is a contemporary artist who rose to prominence as one of the Young British Artists (YBAs) during the 1990s, and won the Turner Prize in 1995. One of the leading artists of his generation, Hirst is best known for his iconic butterfly paintings and ‘Natural History’ series of animals in vitrines suspended in formaldehyde. His work explores the themes of life and death, challenging the boundaries between art, science and religion.