Marc Quinn

Marc Quinn (born 1964) is a British artist whose provocative and conceptually driven practice has placed him at the forefront of contemporary sculpture and painting. Born in London, Quinn studied at Chelsea College of Art and the Slade School of Fine Art, where he was immersed in London’s dynamic art scene. He emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s as part of the Young British Artists (YBAs), a generation that challenged conventions of material, form and subject, alongside peers such as Damien Hirst and Sarah Lucas.

Quinn is best known for his exploration of the human form, often through scientifically and conceptually charged processes. His iconic work Self (1991), a self-portrait cast from his own blood and frozen in silicone, exemplifies his interest in corporeality, mortality and the boundaries between art and life. Beyond sculpture, his paintings and installations investigate themes of beauty, mutation and the natural world, blending realism, abstraction and technological experimentation. His work frequently engages viewers with the tension between aesthetic allure and ethical, scientific or social questions.

Quinn’s work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Tate, London, and the Museum of Modern Art, New York, and is held in major public and private collections.