British artist David Hockney, one of the most influential and celebrated painters of the modern era, died on Thursday at the age of 88, according to a statement from his publicist. No cause of death was announced.
Hockney’s lifelong fascination with light began during his childhood in northern England. Growing up in Bradford, he was captivated by the bright sunlight and sharply defined shadows he saw in Hollywood films featuring comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. The contrast between those images and the grey industrial landscape of his hometown left a lasting impression and would later inspire his move to California.
Born to an accountancy clerk father and a devout Methodist mother, Hockney studied art in Bradford before moving to London in 1959. There, he quickly became a leading figure in the British pop art movement, earning recognition for his distinctive style and creative approach. During the cultural energy of the 1960s, he moved among some of the era’s most prominent figures, including dancer Rudolf Nureyev and Mick Jagger.
Seeking the colour and vitality he admired in American art, Hockney first visited New York in 1961, where he became friends with Andy Warhol. He later settled in Los Angeles, a city whose sunshine, swimming pools and relaxed lifestyle became central subjects in his work.
His vivid paintings of pools, landscapes and portraits helped redefine contemporary art and established him as one of Britain’s most important artistic voices. Although some critics initially dismissed his focus on everyday life and leisure, his reputation continued to grow internationally.
In 2018, one of his most famous works, Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures), sold for $90.3 million, setting a record at the time for the most expensive artwork sold at auction by a living artist.
Later in life, Hockney turned increasingly to the landscapes of Yorkshire, where he spent years painting changing seasons, winding country roads and rolling hills. The period became one of the most productive of his career, producing hundreds of works inspired by the English countryside.
A constant innovator, Hockney embraced new technology throughout his career, experimenting with photography, fax machines, computers and iPads as artistic tools. His Yorkshire paintings also led to the creation of a stained-glass window for Westminster Abbey.
In 2018, he moved to Normandy in France, where he created the monumental artwork A Year in Normandie, inspired by the historic Bayeux Tapestry and the changing beauty of the countryside around him.
Known for his tireless work ethic and curiosity, Hockney continued creating art well into his later years. Reflecting on his dedication, he once remarked: “You don’t retire doing this. You just do it until you fall over.” His remarkable career leaves behind a legacy that transformed modern art and inspired generations of artists around the world. -Reuters
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