15 Mar 2012
Damien Hirst unveils public gallery vision
BY Pete Hayman
Damien Hirst, one of the UK's most prominent contemporary artists, has announced plans to open a new public gallery housing his personal collection in south London in 2014.
The artist told the Observer newspaper that the Lambeth development would display highlights from his collection, which encompasses more than 2,000 art works.
Hirst said the Caruso St John-designed attraction will transform a terrace of listed buildings and will be as large as the Whitechapel Gallery, housing six galleries, a café and a shop.
Among the artists whose work could be displayed in Hirst's new gallery are the late Francis Bacon, Jeff Koons and Sarah Lucas, as well as the iconic graffiti artist Banksy.
Hirst told the Observer: "It's a place to show my collection of contemporary art. It feels bad having it all in crates. It's basically Bacon and beyond."
Details: www.guardian.co.uk
Image: 16 Miles of String/flickr
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