"Damien Hirst's auction" or "Hirst rhymes with first"

It's been almost a year since Damien Hirst's infamous auction took place at Sotheby's in London. Hirst is an interesting figure in the art world - his splashy work and astronomical prices have earned him a spot as one of the most loved and despised artists in the world. September 15, 2008, Sotheby's held a special two day sale of works by Hirst, which is nothing rare (I joke). However, it was incredibly rare, in fact the first time that a set of work went straight from an artist's studio to the auction block - no galleries, no exhibit, no public display. It was sensational. It angered many. It made a lot of people smile, and a lot more people curse his name.

First Family gets some new art

The Obamas have borrowed Ed Ruscha's "I Think I'll..." (1983) from the National Gallery

President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama are shaking things up in D.C. in more ways than one. Besides being the first black Presidential family, the Obamas are changing out the artwork in the White House.

Currently, the White House is full of Hudson River School paintings, landscapes, and the like. The Obamas, supporters of the arts, are actively seeking out modern and contemporary work made by women, Latinos, Asian, and African-American artists. It is said that they have a "wish list" of about 40 artists that they would like to see in their home, and are contacting museums and galleries to borrow the work.

Read more about the Obama artwork shakeup:

• Changing the Art on the White House Walls from The Wall Street Journal

• Listen to "Yes We Can Be More Artistically Inclusive" from WNYC's The Brian Lehrer Show

• Art Goes to the Obama White House from Time