What we know
David Hockney, the revolutionary British painter who helped define 20th-century art, has died at the age of 88. He rose to fame as a pop artist in the 1960s and became best known for his vivid paintings of swimming pools that captured the hedonistic spirit of Los Angeles. Works such as A Bigger Splash and Portrait of an Artist (Pool With Two Figures) depicted scenes of love, lust, and loss beneath sun-soaked skies. However, Hockney's six-decade career extended far beyond that era. He produced perspective-shifting photo-collages, experimented with abstract landscapes, and later explored 3D technology to create artworks.
Early life and rebellious start
Born in Bradford in 1937, Hockney was the fourth of five children in what he described as a "radical working-class family." His parents encouraged his artistic talent. He studied at Bradford College and sold his first painting—a portrait of his father—for £10 at the Yorkshire Artists Exhibition in 1957. As a conscientious objector, he served two years of national service as a hospital orderly before enrolling at London's Royal College of Art in 1959. There, he gained a reputation as a unique talent with a rebellious streak. He refused to paint a female model for a life drawing class, instead submitting Life Drawing for a Diploma, which depicted a muscular male figure from an American physique magazine. He also declined to write a required essay, believing he should be assessed solely on his artworks. The RCA bent its rules to award him the diploma, recognizing his talent.
Challenging conventions and gay life
Hockney had no qualms about challenging conservative society. His 1961 painting We Two Boys Together Clinging, named after a Walt Whitman poem, was an early indicator. Works like 1962's Cleaning Teeth, Early Evening (10pm) W11, with its phallic Colgate tubes and chains, depicted gay life with an honesty that was almost completely at odds with a Britain where homosexuality remained a criminal offense until 1967. With his signature bleach-blond hair, round spectacles, and cigarette, Hockney became a fixture on the 1960s party circuit in London and the US, partying with Andy Warhol, Ossie Clark, and Dennis Hopper. Despite his playboy reputation, he maintained a strong Yorkshire work ethic, continuing to work even after a stroke in 2012 temporarily impaired his speech.
Los Angeles and record-breaking sales
After moving to Los Angeles in the mid-1960s, Hockney's more mature works garnered acclaim for their ability to convey deep emotions. Man in Shower in Beverly Hills (1964) marked his development toward a realist style. In November 2018, his 1972 masterpiece Portrait of an Artist (Pool With Two Figures) sold for $90.3 million (£70.2 million) at Christie's, a world record for a living artist at the time. The work, inspired by his breakup with his lover, was described by the Guardian's Jonathan Jones as "a calm distillation of love and sorrow."
Innovations in photocollage and technology
While working on his LA paintings, Hockney took reference photographs with a Polaroid camera and accidentally discovered photocollage, which he called "joiners." By assembling multiple photographs, he explored perspective. His portraits of his mother and art dealer John Kasmin showed cubist influences compared to his idol, Picasso. In later years, he experimented with set and costume design for operas and ballets. He embraced new technology, using photocopiers, fax machines, printers, and the iPad to create digital paintings that he emailed to friends. "I'm really only interested in technology that is about pictures," he told Interview magazine in 2013. "I'm interested in anything that makes a picture."
Public impact and legacy
Hockney's work resonated with a wide audience, from art critics to the general public. His swimming pool paintings became iconic symbols of the Los Angeles aesthetic, while his later digital works showed that art could evolve with technology. His openness about his sexuality and his rebellious spirit inspired many. An avid smoker all his life, Hockney maintained that cigarettes had been beneficial to him, though the impact of his lifestyle on his health remains a personal detail.
The investigation ahead
As news of his death spreads, art institutions and collectors are expected to reflect on his legacy. His record-breaking sale in 2018 highlighted the enduring value of his work. Future exhibitions may focus on his lesser-known experiments, such as his 3D technology pieces. The art world will continue to study his contributions to perspective and his role in challenging societal norms. Hockney's estate and galleries will likely manage his vast body of work, ensuring his influence endures for generations.
Original reporting by The Guardian.
