With Rich Collectors Buying Less, Damien Hirst Lays Off Most of His Staff

Okay, here’s one “the economy is bad” story we doubt anyone was expecting, particularly us. Thanks to ArtInfo, we were pointed to the news that Damien Hirst has decided to lay off almost all of his staff, surprising the lot of them, despite a representative saying this was all pre-planned. What seems bizarre about all of this, of course, is that Hirst has lately been on a selling streak, handing off work as if he were trading in bricks of gold for cash. So maybe it is just coincidental timing, but the Guardian did manage to squeeze this bit out from him:

Last week, Hirst admitted that art had probably become too expensive in recent years and said he welcomed the prospect of selling his work at cheaper rates in the present climate of recession.

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