The Museum of Art Pudong (MAP) will open a landmark exhibition by Turner Prize-winning artist Damien Hirst this December.

Running from 2026 into 2027, the exhibition will be one of MAP's major shows and will mark Hirst's first solo museum show in China. Highlights will include his iconic 1991 work The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living , featuring a tiger shark preserved in formaldehyde.

A pivotal figure in contemporary art, Hirst was a leading force in the Young British Artists (YBA) movement that emerged in the late 1980s. His work has since challenged conventional boundaries in contemporary art.

The exhibition will feature nearly 100 works from eight of Hirst's signature series, created since 1986, including Natural History, Cherry Blossoms, Spot Paintings, and Spin Paintings. Known for his use of unconventional materials and objects, ranging from diamonds and taxidermy to hairdryers and plush toys, Hirst continually challenges traditional perceptions of life, mortality, and beauty.

His works are held in the collections of major museums, including the British Museum, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and Tate Modern.

The exhibition will offer audiences in China a comprehensive overview of Hirst's artistic career.

If you go

When: Dec 16, 2026–Aug 15, 2027 (10 am-9 pm)

Where: Museum of Art Pudong

Sources: Museum of Art Pudong, Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism