The newly opened Saatchi Gallery in London is enjoying a surge of art lovers keen to see a retrospective of Damien Hirst and other iconic works of contemporary art.

Visitors have passed through the doors of the refurbished County Hall at the rate of 4,000 a day since its opening two weeks ago. As many as 21,000 visitors attended just over the Easter bank holiday weekend.

The Saatchi Gallery set out to attract 400,000 to 450,000 in its first year but is already on target to exceed this. Gallery director, Nigel Hurst, said he anticipated the numbers would fall as the novelty wore off.

The gallery opened two weeks ago with a celebrity-studded party and is boasting arts such as Tracey Emin, Sarah Lucas and Marcus Harvey.

A designated space within the gallery, named the Boiler Room, will be devoted to showing works by emerging new artists. Boiler Room exhibitions will change every five to six weeks. Details: www.saatchigallery.org.uk