David Hockney

(1937 - today)

 

English painter, draftsman, photographer, printmaker, stage designer and art historian. He featured in the 'Young Contemporaries' exhibition of 1961, and became one of the leading influences in the 'pop art movement' of the swinging 1960s.

 

Born in Bradford, he grew up in a large family as the fourth of five siblings. After attending Bradford Grammar School, he specialised in the study of art at Bradford College of Art. During his youth he developed his own pop art style while incorporating influences of expressionism into his work. Combining graffiti-like images with quotations from the poetry of Walt Whitman. After completing two years National Service, which he did working as a hospital orderly, he is eager to move to London.

 

1959-1962, London is entering the Swinging Sixties and this is an exciting time to be a young artist at the Royal College of Art (RCA). In an era of ground-breaking artists that challenged the perception of 'fine art' often to the disapproval of some tutors and to the enthusiasm of critics, who identified with a new movement: Pop Art.

 

In 1961, Hockney is in the right place at the right time. His work is featured in a groundbreaking exhibition called 'Young Contemporaries' at the White Chapel Gallery. His career is launched, celebrity and accolades would follow, but he must first complete his studies at the RCA.

 

A strong believer in letting his creative work

do the talking rather than explaining in words.

 

In 1962, graduates at the RCA were required to paint a life model and write an assignment on their work. Hockney challenged this 'institutional rule'. In protest, he painted 'Life Painting for a Diploma' and scribbled a thesis on Fauvism. Remarkably, the RCA changed its rules. He was awarded the Royal College of Arts gold medal in recognition of his mastery and he wore his gold lamé jacket to the award ceremony.

 

British arts first celebrity, with his oversized

spectacles and his dyed silvery blonde hair.

 

In 1963, flushed with success after a sell-out first solo exhibition at London's Kasmin Gallery, he moves to America. On seeing a 1960s Clairol advert 'that blondes have more fun', he suddenly dyes his hair blonde and a photograph appears in the new Sunday Times magazine. He became even better known for his-signature look than his prolific art. So quickly did he become embedded in the celebrity scene that by 1972 he had appeared on Desert Island Discs.

 

"What an artist is trying to do for people is bring them closer to something, because of course art is about sharing. You wouldn't be an artist unless you wanted to share an experience, a thought."

 

In 1963, flushed with success after a sell-out first solo exhibition at London's Kasmin Gallery, he moves to America. On seeing a 1960s Clairol advert 'that blondes have more fun', he suddenly dyes his hair blonde and a photograph appears in the new Sunday Times magazine. He became even better known for his-signature look than his prolific art. So quickly did he become embedded in the celebrity scene that by 1972 he had appeared on Desert Island Discs.

 

Over 60 years on, he rose to fame for his artistic diversity and ability to mix modern art and technology with more traditional styles of art, such as still life paintings. As one of the most prominent British artists of the 20th century, Hockney has also been largely influential within the Pop Art movement alongside the likes of Andy Warhol and Robert Rauschenberg.

 

Today, he's recovered from a minor stroke (2012). His hereditary hearing loss has worsened, now silence is descending. Yet he continues pouring his thoughts into portraits of friends and acquaintances, and preparing for new art exhibitions. Hockney believes his deafness has improved his artist's eye - " I can see better."

 

Well-known works include: A Bigger Splash (1967), Beverly Hills Housewife(1966-67), Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy (1970-71), Portrait of an Artist (Pool with two Figures) (1972), A Bigger Grand Canyon (1998) and Bigger Trees Near Warter (2007). Hockney is also recognised for his double portraits of fellow artists, friends, family and colleagues, many of which were exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in 2003. His 2016 exhibition at the Royal Academy of Art and his 2017 exhibition at Tate Britain drew huge audiences. 2018 saw the unveiling of his window in Westminster Abbey, designed on his iPad.

 

He has received numerous awards, honours and accolades for his service to art and photography. ARA Royal Academy associate member 1985; RA Royal Academician 1991; Companion of Honour 1997; Exclusive Order of Merit 2012. Equally, has turned down a number awards including the chance to become 'Sir'. He said: "I don't value prizes of any sort. I value my friends."

 

He has been named as one of Britain's largest philanthropists in 2012, after he donated $124m of his art to his charitable foundation, which in turn donates hundreds of his works to museums each year. In addition, he donated £1.2m in cash to fund the foundation’s operations. He has also donated his art to raise money for other charities, including The Laurel Foundation which offers mental health programs for those affected by HIV AIDS, and he supports other AIDS and art initiatives. During the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, he shared never-before-seen iPad designs from his home in Normandy, France as a respite from the grim news.