The King has said he and Queen Camilla are 'greatly saddened' by the death of David Hockney, the celebrated British artist who died peacefully at home on June 11 at the age of 88. His publicist, Erica Bolton, confirmed the news.
King Charles Pays Tribute
In a message from Buckingham Palace, Charles described Hockney as 'a giant of the world of art and painting, a Yorkshireman through and through, and a dear friend and inspiration to so many.' The King recalled Hockney's bright yellow Crocs, worn at a Palace reception, saying: '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 Warm Relationship
The King and Hockney shared a mutual appreciation of art. Hockney once said Charles visited him but he didn't offer to paint the King because his pictures are better when he knows the subject 'really well.'
Art World Mourns
Tributes have poured in from across the art world. Professor Christoph Lindner of the Royal College of Art called Hockney 'a defining voice in art across his lifetime.' Tate Britain director Alex Farquharson said the gallery will work with Hockney's team to realize two projects he was working on before his death: a major exhibition and a multimedia installation.
Hockney's career spanned seven decades, with iconic works like The Splash, A Bigger Splash, and Portrait Of An Artist (Pool With Two Figures). He embraced various media, from printmaking to iPad drawing.
Honours and Legacy
Hockney refused a knighthood but was appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honour in 1997 and the Order of Merit in 2012. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy called him 'a true titan of British art.' Sir Nicholas Serota praised him as 'an artist of constant invention.'
Hockney is survived by his partner Jean-Pierre Goncalves de Lima, great-nephew Richard, brothers Philip and John, and many nieces and nephews.
