David Hockney, one of Britain’s most beloved contemporary artists, has passed away
On 11 June in London, David Hockney passed away at the age of 88. He was one of the most influential and recognisable artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. For many, David Hockney became far more than just a name in art history. His sun-drenched Californian swimming pools, the iconic A Bigger Splash, Yorkshire landscapes, opera set designs, and even his iPad drawings all belonged to a vast artistic universe that felt remarkably alive, joyful and full of optimism.
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What always made Hockney so extraordinary was this rare combination: a brilliant classical foundation and deep understanding of art history, paired with a complete lack of fear when it came to experimentation. He moved effortlessly between painting, photography, collage and digital media, and was among the first major artists to seriously explore how optics and technology may have shaped the work of the Old Masters. His book Secret Knowledge sparked intense debate among art historians, but perhaps the most important thing about Hockney was his endless curiosity. He was fascinated not only by what we see, but by how we actually see the world.
Photo: Afisha.London
Many Londoners will especially remember his monumental exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts shortly after the pandemic. His enormous, vividly coloured works — including many created on an iPad — seemed to burst into the galleries carrying light, life and freedom with them. After several difficult years, there was something so fresh, bright and uplifting about those paintings that, for a few hours, visitors seemed to forget the fear, anxiety and fragility of the world around them. Today we say goodbye to one of the great artists of our time — a man who reminded us how much beauty still exists around us if we never stop looking. One can only hope that David Hockney’s example, and the warmth and optimism of his art, will continue to inspire future generations of artists to value curiosity, courage and joy just as much as technical mastery.
His exhibition in London will be open till August 23.
Books about the artist:
Cover photo: Afisha.London
Read also:
The right to create: A conversation with Dmitry Krymov
10 unexpected summer paintings in art, from Monet to Levitan
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