David Hockney, one of Britain’s most celebrated and influential artists, has died at age 88.
The legendary painter died at his home in London on Thursday, just weeks before what would have been his 89th birthday, according to his publicist, Erica Bolton.
Bolton described Hockney as one of the “most important figures in contemporary art in both the 20th and 21st centuries.”
Hockney’s death marks the end of a towering seven-decade career that helped reshape modern art. He became a major figure in the pop art movement before expanding into photography, stage design, digital art, and iPad drawings.
Known for his bright colors, bold compositions, and instantly recognizable swimming pool scenes, Hockney created some of the most famous works of the modern era. His best-known pieces include Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures), The Splash, A Bigger Splash, and My Parents.
Born in Bradford in northern England in 1937, Hockney later became closely associated with California, where his paintings captured the light, pools, homes, and open spaces of Los Angeles. His work also reflected scenes from London, Yorkshire, and other places he called home throughout his life.
In the 1960s, Hockney became a standout figure in the British and American art scenes. With his bleached-blond hair, round glasses, and fearless artistic style, he became one of the most recognizable artists of his generation.
His paintings often turned everyday moments into striking images, using flattened shapes, vivid color, reflections, water, windows, and human figures to create a world that felt both personal and dreamlike.
Hockney continued experimenting throughout his life. Rather than staying with one style or medium, he pushed into photo-collage, digital tools, and later iPad drawings, proving he was still creatively restless well into old age.
In 2018, his famous 1972 painting Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) sold at Christie’s in New York for about $90 million. At the time, it broke the record for the most expensive artwork ever sold at auction by a living artist.
That record stood only a few months before Jeff Koons’ Rabbit sculpture sold for more than $91 million in May 2019.
Hockney was also known for his outspoken personality. A lifelong smoker, he publicly pushed back against tobacco restrictions and defended his habit in interviews.
“I’ve smoked for 62 years, so why stop now?” he once said. “Picasso smoked, died at 91. Matisse smoked, died at 84. Monet smoked, died at 86. Van Gogh smoked a pipe, and he died early, but not from smoking.”
Beyond his art and public image, Hockney was admired for his work ethic and curiosity. Even late in life, he continued creating and exhibiting new work, refusing to slow down as he explored new ways to make pictures.
His influence reached far beyond galleries and auction houses. Hockney helped define how generations saw modern color, California light, intimate portraiture, and the possibilities of art in the digital age.
He leaves behind a massive body of work and a legacy as one of the most important artists of his time.