David Hockney is a British artist who is considered one of the most influential figures in contemporary art. Born on July 9, 1937, in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, Hockney is known for his versatile and innovative work, spanning painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, and stage design. Hockney was an early reader and art enthusiast who admired Picasso, Matisse, and Fragonard. Hockney attended the Royal College of Art in London.
Hockeny began his studies there in 1959 and completed his education in 1962. His time at the Royal College of Art was a formative period for his artistic development, and it was during this time that he became associated with the British Pop Art movement. Hockney used to love to sit in the front on the upper level of double-decker buses. He could see most of the city and its surroundings from that location.
In the Randall Wright-directed 2015 documentary, Hockney stated, “I always wanted to see more.” Using his iPad, Hockney designed a stained-glass window for Westminster Abbey in 2018. As he sat with the device in the church hall, the play of light frequently inspired him. Harry Styles, the singer, is the image he created most recently on his iPad. Hockney was awarded the Praemium Imperiale in 1989, which is sometimes referred to as the Nobel Prize in the arts.
Hockney regards himself as a tireless worker. Because of the unique quality of the early morning light, he frequently wakes up at dawn. Painting landscapes “I find it exciting to see how rain falls in a puddle and then to paint it,” he says. He loves to smoke cigarettes and is considered a chain smoker.
In his later years, Hockney photographed everything that caught his attention, including scenes from daily life, sketches made by pals, residences, people walking by, and anything else that caught his eye.
Hockney has frequently stated that his deafness has caused him to rely more on vision than other people do when detecting objects in space. As a result, he stays away from busy areas where it can be difficult for him to distinguish a voice from other noises, and this increased sensitivity is evident in his artwork.
His parents were Laura Hockney née Kitson and Kenneth Hockney. David grew up in a working-class family, and his artistic talents were evident from a young age. His family and upbringing in Yorkshire had a significant influence on his life and art, and he later moved to London to pursue his artistic education. His parents gave their son the opportunity to sketch and imagine while also supporting his artistic journey.
Hockney has two brothers, Paul and Philip. While his family background was working-class, and he grew up in a relatively modest environment, Hockney’s artistic talents eventually led him to pursue a career in art.
Hockney has never been married. He has been open about his sexuality and has had relationships with both men and women. Hockney’s personal life, including his relationships, has been a subject of interest and discussion, and he has been known for his candid and open approach to his experiences.
Hockney gained recognition in the 1960s as a prominent figure in the pop art movement. His early works often featured everyday objects and scenes, reflecting the influence of the pop art movement that emerged in the United Kingdom and the United States during that time.
One of Hockney’s most iconic series of paintings is his depictions of swimming pools. These works, which began in the 1960s, are characterized by vibrant colors and a distinctive California aesthetic, as Hockney spent a significant amount of time in Los Angeles.
In the 1980s, Hockney experimented with photocollage, creating intricate and large-scale works by piecing together multiple photographs to create a single image. This technique allowed him to explore perspective and capture a sense of movement and time.
Hockney is well-known for his landscape paintings, particularly those that drew inspiration from the East Yorkshire countryside where he grew up. In these works, he often employs bold colors and a distinctive perspective that captures the essence of the landscape.
Throughout his career, Hockney has created portraits of friends, family, and other subjects. His portraiture work is characterized by a keen attention to detail and a focus on the personality of the sitter.
Hockney has embraced various technologies in his artistic practice. In the 1980s, he created art using fax machines, and later, he explored digital art on the iPad. His willingness to adopt new technologies has kept his work contemporary and relevant.
Hockney was friends with many great artists, including Andy Warhol and Robert Rauschenberg. In 2018, his Portrait Of An Artist Pool With Two Figures sold at auction in New York for $90.3 million, including premium, which was at the time the highest price ever paid at auction for a painting by a living artist.
David Hockney’s contributions to the art world have earned him numerous awards and honors. His work is held in major museums and collections around the world.