Science, the company behind Damien Hirst’s artistic production, marketing and publicity, is ranked number one in the seventh edition of ArtReview’s Power 100, distributed in the November 2008 issue of the contemporary art magazine.

British Mega-Artist Damien Hirst. Image: espacioblog.com

In a year that began with the setting of new auction records for contemporary art and ended in global financial crisis, Hirst overshadowed and outshone, becoming the first artist to bring his work directly to auction (at Sotheby’s London in September), and grossing £111 million in the process.

The top 10 also includes Kathy Halbreich, the first woman to appear on her own in the top 10. Ranked third, behind Hirst and gallerist Larry Gagosian, she is the newly appointed Associate Director of MoMA, New York, and the first of 32 women on this year’s ranking of art world players in a list traditionally dominated by men.

Click HERE for the full list, and last year’s winners.

Interesting to note that dealers, curators, collectors and a few mega artists occupy the top…while critics and artists sit closer to the bottom…Canadian Jeff Wall and former Canadian Peter Doig make the list, too.