David Hockney, the acclaimed British artist who was one of the most celebrated and influential figures in modern art, has died at the age of 88. His publicist confirmed that he passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, just weeks before his 89th birthday.
A Life of Artistic Reinvention
Over a career spanning more than seven decades, Hockney became renowned for constantly reinventing his artistic practice. He worked across painting, printmaking, photography, stage design, and in later years, digital art. Among his most celebrated works are A Bigger Splash (1967), the iconic swimming pool painting that defined his California period, and My Parents (1977), one of his most acclaimed portraits.
Personal Life and Legacy
Hockney was a committed lifelong smoker who campaigned against anti-smoking laws, continuing to smoke until the end of his life. He is survived by his long-time partner Jean-Pierre Goncalves de Lima, his great-nephew Richard who served as his studio assistant, his brothers Philip and John, and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
Career Highlights
Hockney trained at Bradford School of Art in the 1950s and later at the Royal College of Art in London, where he graduated with a Gold Medal distinction in 1962. He emerged as a seminal talent in the new generation of British artists. His move to Los Angeles inspired some of his most famous paintings, documenting the Southern California lifestyle. Returning to Yorkshire in the early 2000s prompted a renewed engagement with landscapes, producing some of his most ambitious oil paintings.
From 2007 onward, the iPhone and iPad became central to his practice, resulting in the vast series The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire in 2011. In 2017, he was invited to create the stained-glass Queen's Window in honor of Queen Elizabeth II, unveiled in October 2018. He was appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honour in 1997 and the Order of Merit in 2012. In 2026, he became one of the few non-French citizens awarded the rank of Officer in France's Legion d'Honneur.
Memorial Plans
A statement from his publicist 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.' It added: 'David Hockney's enduring legacy reflects his underlying enthusiasm for life, his outstanding sense of humour, his immense generosity, and his investigative curiosity encapsulated by his signature phrase, Love Life. Details of memorials will follow in due course.'
