Artist Damien Hirst last night revealed that he turned down the offer of a knighthood because he did not feel comfortable accepting the honour.
In a rare interview, Britain’s richest artist disclosed how he was ‘sounded out’ for the top award by investment banker and arts patron Jacob Rothschild.
But after consulting his friend and art dealer Jay Jopling, Hirst declined, saying: ‘I never felt comfortable with the idea.’
Reportedly worth £308 million, Hirst forged the Young British Artist (YBA) art scene of the 1990s and shot to fame after displaying sharks and other animals suspended in formaldehyde.
Once renowned for his wild partying, Hirst now has a one-year-old son Noah with his girlfriend of eight years Sophie Cannell, 31, a former ballerina.
He was speaking to the Times ahead of his 60th birthday from Las Vegas where ‘they have loads of mother and baby meetings.’
He struggled to name where ‘home’ for him was, in part because his eldest three sons are living in his Devon farmhouse. He owns other properties in Mayfair and Richmond in London and in the Cotswolds.
He admitted that he previously used to buy property ‘a bit like Monopoly’ – and would even purchase the villas he stayed in each time he went on holiday.
Artist Damien Hirst last night revealed in an interview with The Times that he turned down the offer of a knighthood because he did not feel comfortable accepting the honour
Reportedly worth £308 million, Hirst forged the Young British Artist (YBA) art scene of the 1990s and shot to fame after displaying sharks and other animals suspended in formaldehyde (pictured)
When Hirst rejected the idea of receiving a CBE (Commander of the British Empire), Lord Rothschild, a member of the famous banking family, then floated the possibility of a KBE (Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire) instead, which Hirst also declined
Hirst, who won the Turner Prize in 1995, used to spend a lot of time in Mexico, where he also owns several properties, but Ms Cannell does not like going there.
‘She hates spiders, and we get tarantulas, scorpions,’ he said. ‘I even had a crocodile in the pool, so that’s off the cards.’
Hirst revealed in 2017 that he was offered a CBE (Commander of the British Empire) but turned it down, saying: ‘I got where I was going by myself. The letters after your name thing just feels a bit uncool.’
Last night he revealed that Lord Rothschild, who died in February last year, telephoned him and explored whether he would accept a CBE.
When Hirst rejected the idea, the peer, a member of the famous banking family, then floated the possibility of a KBE (Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire) instead, which Hirst also declined.
Once renowned for his wild partying, Hirst now has a one-year-old son Noah with his girlfriend of eight years Sophie Cannell, 31 (pictured) a former ballerina
Pictured: Hirst with his son Noah
Hirst admitted that he previously used to buy property ‘a bit like Monopoly’ – and would even purchase the villas he stayed in each time he went on holiday
‘…they’re very clever – they don’t really offer it to you before getting someone to sound you out,’ Hirst said.
Lord Rothschild, a towering figure in the art world, was the perfect choice to approach the celebrated artist.
‘He used to come down to my house and my studio,’ Hirst said. ‘I enjoyed hanging out with him.’
In the interview, Hirst, who once made a diamond encrusted skull with a £50 million price tag, declared ‘money is an important thing’ and that he wanted to ‘avoid making loads of work that never sells.’
