Damien Hirst Ascendant

Hirst clowning at his studio in Stroud, England, amid some of the work headed to Sotheby's.

Showroom
Hirst clowns at his studio in Stroud, England, amid some of the work headed to Sotheby's. The auction marks the first time an artist has sold a sizable amount of work directly from his own studio, bypassing the galleries and dealers who have traditionally operated as the art world's middlemen.

Get the Latest Photos from Time.com
Get TIME photos and pictures of the week delivered directly to your inbox.