David Hockney, the innovative British artist known for his vibrant paintings of Los Angeles landscapes, has passed away at 88. He arrived in Los Angeles in 1964 and quickly became inspired by its sunny life. Hockney famously captured the sparkling swimming pools and palm trees, often featuring beautiful young men in his artworks. Over the years, he experimented with various mediums, including intricate photo collages, iPad drawings, and portrait series.
From his early Pop Art days in the 1960s at London’s Royal College of Art, Hockney remained a prominent figure. He consistently introduced fresh ideas for drawing, painting, filming, and photographing. The David Hockney Foundation holds over 8,000 of his works, including numerous sketchbooks and self-portraits.
Hockney cherished Hollywood and often mentioned being ‘brought up in England and Hollywood’ due to his love for movies. His peroxide blonde hair was inspired by Clairol TV ads he saw as a student. His interests ranged from Elvis Presley to the Hubble Space Telescope. Art critic Robert Hughes described him as ‘the Cole Porter of modern art.’ He was openly gay at a time when homosexuality was illegal in Britain. His relationship with artist Peter Schlesinger inspired his 1972 painting ‘Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures),’ which set a record at a 2018 auction, selling for $90 million.
An avid art student, he paid homage to figures like Picasso, Monet, and Van Gogh. He often listened to opera while working and enjoyed curated driving tours around Los Angeles. He designed stage sets for major opera companies, and some models were displayed in museums. Hockney’s works, such as ‘Gregory in the Pool (Paper Pool 4),’ have been featured in exhibitions like ‘David Hockney: Perspective Should Be Reversed’ at the Palm Springs Art Museum.
His solo shows attracted large audiences at venues like the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. In 2017, a major retrospective was held at the Met, Pompidou, and Tate Modern. Andrea K. Scott from the New Yorker called this retrospective ‘a revelation.’
In 2012, he received the Order of Merit from Queen Elizabeth II. Born on July 9, 1937, to a working-class family in Bradford, Yorkshire, Hockney began his artistic journey early. He studied at the Bradford School of Art and the Royal College of Art in London, graduating in 1962. His first sold painting was a portrait of his father in 1955.
Biographer Christopher Simon Sykes noted Hockney’s work ethic in his 2014 book. Known for his dedication, Hockney consistently produced art. He created influential photographic collages and played with perspectives and illusions. Hockney’s fascination with technology led him to experiment with devices like fax machines and photocopiers.
He explored early artistic use of optical devices, inspired by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres’ works, and published his theories in ‘Secret Knowledge.’ His death was confirmed by the Associated Press and New York Times.