Legendary British artist David Hockney has died at the age of 88. Over more than seven decades, the Yorkshire-born painter was regarded as one of the most influential and defining figures in contemporary art.
His publicist, Erica Bolton, confirmed that he “passed away peacefully” at his London home on Thursday. A statement read: “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.”
Record-Breaking Art Sales
In 2018, his painting Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) sold at auction in New York for $90 million (£70 million), smashing the then-record for a work by a living artist.
A Distinctive Presence
Long considered a “national treasure,” Hockney’s trademark round spectacles and bleached blond hair—later replaced by flat caps—were as recognizable as his paintings. He drew inspiration from art history, from the Renaissance to abstract expressionism, yet consistently pursued his own path, refusing to follow artistic trends.
Art School Rebel
An art school rebel, he was initially denied a diploma for refusing to complete an essay assignment, insisting he should be judged solely on his artwork. Early in his career, he defied the dominant abstraction trend by painting figuratively with bright, primitivist colors. When critics later dismissed his landscape work, he declared he “didn’t give a damn.”
California Influence
Growing up in Bradford, England, Hockney was captivated by the light and freedoms of 1960s California, making the state his primary home for 40 years. He also embraced exploring his sexuality as an openly gay man when homosexuality was still illegal in England.
