Damien Hirst, Sanctum Altar
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Main reasons to invest
Return potential📈: An investment of €500 could reach an estimated value of €1,127 in 5 years.
Cost-to-return ratio⚖️: After deducting 3.4% in annual total costs, your net return could reach 17.6% per year.
The poetry of transformation: In Sanctum Altar, Hirst turns the butterfly into a symbol of rebirth, symmetry and vivid colour transforming fragility into beauty. An iconic motif, acquired 18.7% below recent 2025 auction prices.
Description
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Investment Horizon | From 3 to 5 years |
| Potential net ROI p.a. | 17.6% (balanced scenario) |
| Potential net ROI p.a. | 20.6% (ambitious scenario) |
| Price Verification prior fees | -18.7% |
| Price Verification after fees | -5.0% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 0.96 |
| Value at Risk (VaR) | 94.6% chance to exceed initial investment after 5 years |
| Standard Deviation | 19,6% |
| Number of sales points | 26 |
| Risk Rating | A (9.2/10) |
- 3–5 year horizon: The planned investment horizon targets an exit between 2029 and 2031, aiming to capture peak demand cycles as scarcity and collector interest grow.
- 17.6% net ROI p.a. (balanced): Based on an 85% probability of achieving the historical CAGR (19.3%) observed from 12/2015 – 03/2024 using comparable auction data (Artprice.com).
- 20.6% net ROI p.a. (ambitious): Assumes a 100% probability of achieving the same historical CAGR (19.3%) over 12/2015 – 03/2024 based on comparable auction data (Artprice.com).
- -18.7% entry discount (prior fees): Acquired below current market value, improving exit flexibility and downside protection.
- -5.0% entry discount (after fees): Still below market value post-fees, preserving a valuation cushion.
- Sharpe ratio 0.96: Attractive risk-adjusted return profile based on ex ante analysis.
- 94.6% VaR threshold: High probability that the asset’s value exceeds the initial investment after 5 years, indicating strong downside resilience.
- Standard deviation 19.6%: Low volatility (sub-20%) supporting stability relative to many alternative assets.
- Track record depth (26 sales points): Findings are based on 26 key comparable sales supporting the growth assumptions.
- Risk rating “A” (9.2/10): Strong overall score supported by low volatility, high VaR stability, and deep comparable market data.
Art has long been collected for its cultural, emotional, and economic value. Works by established contemporary artists offer strong demand, proven market depth, and broad institutional support. Investing in a blue-chip name like Damien Hirst combines financial potential with the appeal of owning culturally significant work, making this category attractive for both new and experienced collectors.
Sanctum Altar belongs to Damien Hirst’s celebrated butterfly series—works that have become some of the most recognisable images in contemporary art. Since the early 1990s, Hirst has used butterflies as powerful symbols of life, transformation, and the fragile boundary between beauty and mortality. In this piece, the symmetry evokes the structure of a cathedral window or sacred altar, reinforcing the spiritual undertone embedded in the title.
The composition balances precision and vibrancy. Each wing is meticulously arranged, creating a sense of order and contemplation, while the intense colours radiate energy. The result is both meditative and visually arresting—a work that commands space and invites reflection.
Created in 2009 and issued in a limited edition of 59, Sanctum Altar represents a mature phase of Hirst’s printmaking practice. It captures a motif that has defined his career, translating one of contemporary art’s most iconic themes into a format that is both accessible and culturally enduring.
Sanctum Altar embodies Damien Hirst’s iconic butterfly motif—uniting beauty, symmetry, and symbolism in a limited edition format. With strong recognisability and enduring cultural relevance, the work offers investors exposure to a blue-chip contemporary artist whose market presence and collector demand remain globally established.
Expert
TGB London Limited, founded in 2016 by Simon Portlock and Bradley Ridge is an art advisory and brokerage company. Leveraging the expertise of Simon and Bradley in the contemporary art market, TGB specialises in guiding collectors to curate world-class art collections. With a commitment to excellence, TGB provides unparalleled insights and support to art collectors ensuring the creation of exceptional and noteworthy collections.
