DAMIEN HIRST - HIRST IS CROWNED 'WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE LIVING ARTIST'

HIRST IS CROWNED 'WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE LIVING ARTIST'

Brit DAMIEN HIRST became the world's most expensive living artist on Thursday (21Jun07) after his contemporary work "Lullaby Spring" sold for an astonishing $19.2 million (GBP9.6 million). The pill cabinet sold at London auction house Sotheby's, to an anonymous bidder, beating the record held for years by American Jasper Johns. It marks a money-spinning week in the art world. Just a day earlier (21Jun07) Lucian Freud's portrait Bruce Bernard sold for $15.8 million (GBP7.9 million) - making him briefly Europe's most expensive artist. Robin Woodhead, chief executive of Sotheby's International, says, "This was the highest totaling week of sales London has ever seen - confirming beyond all doubt London's rapid ascent as a central hub in the art market. Bidding across the sales was truly global. New buyers locked horns with long-time collectors in a bid to secure top masterpieces."