David Hockney, one of Britain’s most celebrated and influential artists, has passed away at the age of 88, just weeks short of what would have been his 89th birthday.
His long-time publicist, Erica Bolton, confirmed the news, stating:
“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.”
A Life Devoted to Art
Born in Bradford in 1937, Hockney rose to prominence in the 1960s as a central figure in the English pop art movement, quickly establishing himself as a defining voice in modern British art.
His body of work spanned painting, printmaking, photography, and in his later years, digital drawing on the iPad — a medium he embraced with characteristic curiosity and enthusiasm.
Among his most recognised works are A Bigger Splash and Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures), alongside his vivid portrayals of Los Angeles swimming pools, the Yorkshire countryside, and the textures of everyday life.
His paintings of pools and swimmers, drawn largely from his time in California, became some of the most iconic images in contemporary art.
Across a career of more than six decades, Hockney consistently pushed the boundaries of his craft, building a legacy that extended well beyond gallery walls and resonated with audiences around the world.
Tributes have begun pouring in from the art world and beyond in honour of a man widely regarded as one of the greats of his generation.
