Apr 3, 2012

Well-known contemporary artist Damien Hirst has been ruffling the feathers of art critics since he received public attention back in the 80s. Some have called him a genius and even a modern-day Andy Warhol. Others, like critic Julian Spalding whose book “Con Art – Why You Ought To Sell Your Damien Hirsts While You Can,” remain unimpressed, and even adamant in their disdain for the artist.

Love him or hate him, Hirst’s artwork is fascinating. His latest exhibition at the Tate Modern art gallery in London highlights some of his best work spanning three decades and features over 70 works of art. They include works from his Natural History series such as “The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living” which features a suspended shark in formaldehyde and “Mother and Child Divided” which presents a bisected cow and calf also in formaldehyde. Other works include a spin painting, a spot painting, pharmaceuticals, cigarette butts, live butterflies… there’s even a cow’s head being devoured by flies entitled “A Thousand Years.”

If you’re planning on taking a trip to England, the exhibition opens to the general public on April 4, 2012 and runs until September 9, 2012.

Pop art icon or con artist? Decide for yourself.

: Artist Damien Hirst poses in front of his artwork entitled ‘I am Become Death, Shatterer of Worlds’ in the Tate Modern art gallery in London. The Tate Modern is displaying the first major exhibition of Damien Hirst’s artworks, bringing together a collection over 70 of Hirst’s works spanning three decades. The exhibition opens to the general public on April 4, 2012 and runs until September 9, 2012. (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

: Members of the public admire an artwork by Damien Hirst entitled “The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living.” (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

: A woman looks at a creation by Damien Hirst entitled “The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living.” (Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images)

: Visitors view “Mother and Child Divided”, a bisected cow and calf by Damien Hirst at the Tate Modern gallery. (Toby Melville/Reuters)

: A man photographs artwork by Damien Hirst entitled “Mother and Child Divided.” (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

: A woman takes a closer look at “Mother and Child Divided.” (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

: A woman admires an artwork by Damien Hirst entitled “Dead Ends Died Out, Examined.” (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

: An employee walks past a spot painting by British artist Damien Hirst. (Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images)

: A visitor views a spot painting by British artist Damien Hirst. Hirst’s retrospective show runs from April 4 to September 9. (Toby Melville/Reuters)

: A fly-covered cow’s head is part of an artwork by Damien Hirst entitled “A Thousand Years” in the Tate Modern art gallery. (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

: People view a fly-covered cow’s head, part of an artwork by Damien Hirst entitled “A Thousand Years.” (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

: A visitor views “A Thousand Years”, flies feeding off a cow’s head by British artist Damien Hirst. (Toby Melville/Reuters)

: Live butterflies sit in a bowl of fruit in an installation called “In and Out of Love” by Damien Hirst. (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

: A butterfly lands on the head of a gallery assistant in a display room entitled “In and Out of Love” by British artist Damien Hirst. (Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images)