7. Damien Hirst
Damien Hirst has built his reputation on shocking the art world, famously preserving dead animals in methanal to force us face life, death, and what art can be. His iconic shark in a tank sparked outrage and debate over ethics, creativity, and the value of art itself. Love him or hate him, Hirst’s bold provocations continue to challenge how we see mortality; and art’s place in it.