Celebrated British artist David Hockney has died at the age of 88. Over the course of more than seven decades, the Yorkshire-born painter was considered one of the most influential and defining figures in contemporary art.
Passing Confirmed by Publicist
His publicist Erica Bolton confirmed that he had 'passed away peacefully' at his home in London on Thursday. A statement read: '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.'
Record-Breaking Artwork
In 2018, his painting Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) was sold at auction in New York for $90 million (£70 million), shattering the then-record for a work by a living artist.
National Treasure and Distinctive Style
Long seen as a 'national treasure', his huge round spectacles and bleached blond hair – replaced in later years by a series of flat caps – were almost as distinctive and familiar as his paintings. He drew inspiration from art history, from the Renaissance to abstract expressionism, yet consistently pursued his own path, refusing to conform to artistic fashions.
Art School Rebel
An art school rebel, he was initially denied a diploma because he refused to complete an essay assignment, insisting he should be judged solely on his artwork.
Career Highlights
At the start of his career, he bucked the trend of figurative painting when abstraction dominated, using bright colours in a primitivist style. In later years, when critics decried his embrace of landscape painting, he made clear that he 'didn't give a damn'.
California Influence
Having grown up in Bradford, he was enthralled by the light and freedoms of 1960s California, making the state his main home for 40 years.
Personal Life and Legacy
He enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to explore his sexuality as an openly gay man at a time when homosexuality was still illegal in England. His legacy as one of the most important artists of the 20th and 21st centuries remains secure.
