The art world is in mourning following the peaceful passing of legendary British painter and 1960s pop art pioneer David Hockney at his home in London. He was 88 years old, just one month shy of his 89th birthday.
His publicist, Erica Bolton, confirmed that the prolific master draughtsman and multimedia image maker passed away on Thursday, smoking “up to the end” and maintaining his trademark creative drive. He is survived by his long-time partner Jean-Pierre Goncalves de Lima, two brothers, and an extensive extended family.
A Seven-Decade Legacy of Colour and Innovation
Born in Bradford, northern England, in 1937, Hockney defiantly carved his own path from an early age, realizing young that he was gay and destined for a life in art. From his early training at the Bradford School of Art and London’s Royal College of Art, his boundless curiosity and mastery of color set him apart as a rising star.
Hockney famously captured everything from the sun-drenched, carefree landscapes of 1960s California to the bucolic serenity of his native Yorkshire. In 2018, his iconic 1972 painting, Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures), shattered records when it fetched $90.3 million at an auction in New York, briefly setting the record for the most expensive work by a living artist sold at auction.
Never one to be restricted by traditional canvas, Hockney was a fierce champion of modern technology, eagerly embracing digital art by creating vibrant masterpieces on iPads and utilizing custom-built applications.
Global Tributes Pour In
Tributes have flooded in from heads of state and major cultural institutions worldwide. Leading the honors, King Charles III released a heartfelt statement on X, praising Hockney as:
“A giant of the world of art… whose irrepressible charm, talent and constant innovation will be most sorely missed. David was one of life’s true originals; one who wore his genius as lightly as those beloved yellow Crocs of his that helped brighten Palace occasions.”
A spokeswoman for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called him “one of Britain’s most celebrated artists” whose vivid work will influence generations to come. Cultural bastions like the Pompidou Centre in Paris and London’s Tate Britain likewise lauded his constant reinvention. Tate Britain’s director, Alex Farquharson, confirmed that the institution will work alongside the artist’s estate to realize two major projects scheduled for next year.
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Hockney’s first exhibition at London’s Serpentine Gallery, featuring brand-new paintings, is currently open to the public, proving that the titan of British art remained happiest when he was painting, right up until his final moments.
