Prints by David Hockney (born 1937 died 2026)
David Hockney was widely regarded as the greatest living British artist, as well as one of the most valuable. His 1972 work Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) sold for a record‑breaking $90 million at auction in 2018. This record was surpassed only in 2019, when Jeff Koons’s Rabbit sold for slightly more — though, allowing for inflation, the two remained broadly comparable.
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Despite these headline sales, Hockney was also one of the most accessible major artists. His extensive body of prints ensured that he remained financially as well as artistically approachable. Hockney was not solely a painter; he was also a photographer, printmaker, theatre designer and draftsman. He was among the first artists to create significant works on an iPad, and he became known for his research into the optical devices used by Old Masters.
A precocious talent, Hockney began his studies at the Bradford School of Art at just 16, later joining the Royal College of Art in 1959, where he was awarded the institution’s Gold Medal in 1962. His first solo exhibition the following year was a triumph, launching a career that went on to span decades and continents. He lived mainly in Bridlington, where he painted his Yorkshire landscapes, and in California, his American home from 1964 onward. “I live wherever I happen to be,” he often said.
David Hockney — Selected Quotes
“Laugh a lot. It clears the lungs.”
“It’s very British to go about to see something unusual and paint it.”
“Drawing makes you see things clearer, and clearer and clearer still, until your eyes ache.”
David Hockney — Factoids
He was an inveterate smoker.
He held nine honorary degrees.
Obituary
David Hockney died after a long and celebrated life devoted to art, innovation and observation. His work reshaped British painting, expanded the possibilities of printmaking and embraced new technologies without hesitation. Beloved for his curiosity, wit and relentless productivity, he left behind one of the most diverse and influential bodies of work of the modern era. His legacy endures in museums, collections and homes around the world.
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