Damien Hirst (1965) - The Empresses: 10-5 Taytu Betul

As one of today’s most important contemporary artists, Damien Hirst redefines femininity with Empresses a dazzling fusion of glitter, beauty, and timeless relevance.

This series of five laminated Giclée prints on aluminum composite features red and black butterfly wings arranged in kaleidoscopic patterns, in which Hirst reuses the butterfly as a symbol of freedom, religion, life, and death. The works are named after five influential female rulers and radiate strength, passion, and transformation.

Taytu Betul, named after the fierce Empress of Ethiopia, conveys a thrilling sense of speed and motion. Distinct within the series, it captures butterflies in their most lifelike form, viewed almost from above, as they swirl in a dynamic, spiral composition that embodies vitality and movement.