Mr Hockney, who was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, in 1937, passed away peacefully at his home on June 11, just weeks before what would have been his 89th birthday.
The artist’s publicist described him as “one of the most important figures in contemporary art in both the 20th and 21st centuries”.
A statement said: “The celebrated British artist David Hockney, one of the most important figures in contemporary art in both the 20th and 21st centuries, passed away peacefully at home on 11 June 2026, one month short of his 89th birthday.”
The life of David Hockney
Mr Hockney began his training at the Bradford School of Art before moving on to the Royal College of Art in London, where he emerged as a prominent figure in the British pop art movement.
He was best known for his vibrant, sunlit paintings, particularly his iconic Los Angeles swimming pool scenes.
His wide-ranging body of work included photography, printmaking, stage design, and later, digital art.
His career spanned more than 70 years and was defined by an unrelenting sense of optimism and experimentation.
Much of his work drew on influences from the Renaissance and the abstract expressionist movement, but he remained resolutely individual in his approach, often rejecting artistic trends in favour of his own vision.
Mr Hockney’s formative years in Bradford left a long-lasting impression on his art.
He grew up in a working-class family and began drawing at an early age, despite little encouragement at Bradford Grammar School.
With the backing of his parents, he enrolled at art college and later the Royal College of Art, where he was known as a rebellious student.
He was warned that he could not graduate – in part because he had not done enough life drawings – to which he responded by painting Life Painting for a Diploma – a bold, unconventional piece that ultimately earned him the college’s gold medal in painting.
A breakthrough came in 1961, when Mr Hockney was featured in the Young Contemporaries exhibition alongside other rising stars of British pop art.
Although associated with the pop art movement, his work also contained strong expressionist influences.
His artistic direction changed dramatically after moving to Los Angeles in 1964.
He was captivated by the Californian light and lifestyle, which became central themes in his work.
Using bold colours and acrylic paints, he created his iconic swimming pool series, including the renowned A Bigger Splash.
Mr Hockney also gained recognition for his portraits, such as Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy, and his innovative photo-collages like Pearblossom Highway.
He continued to push boundaries in later years, embracing new technology and producing art on iPads and other digital devices.
In the 1990s, Mr Hockney returned regularly to Yorkshire and began painting the local landscapes.
He eventually moved back full-time, settling in Bridlington and creating works inspired by the region’s countryside.
One of his major pieces from this period, Bigger Trees Near Warter, is a 12-metre-wide oil painting made up of 50 panels.
His Yorkshire landscapes were featured in the Royal Academy’s 2012 exhibition, A Bigger Picture, which attracted 600,000 visitors.
Despite his decades-long residence in the US, Mr Hockney always considered himself “very English.”
He declined the chance to paint Queen Elizabeth II, stating he was “too busy” painting England.
He did, however, design a stained glass window for Westminster Abbey in her honour, depicting hawthorn blossom from his native Yorkshire.
Following the loss of his hearing, he continued to paint for up to six hours a day, stating that the impairment allowed him to “see space clearer.”
Throughout his life, Mr Hockney remained a committed smoker, often wearing badges that read “End bossiness soon.”
Even in his final years, he found joy in the routine of painting, once saying: “I’m happiest when I’m painting.
“If I can paint every day I don’t care about anything else.”
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