A fleet of over 600 drones choreographed by Skymagic lit up the night sky over Bradford, England, on November 13, recreating iconic paintings by David Hockney including *A Bigger Splash* (1967), *Mr. and Mrs. Clark and Percy* (1970–71), and *A Year in Normandie* (2021). The event, held in Roberts Park, celebrated Bradford’s designation as the U.K. City of Culture for 2025 and honored Hockney, the region’s most famous living artist. It marked the first time drone swarm technology has been used for a light painting in the U.K. and the first time Hockney’s work has been rendered by drones.
The spectacle matters because it underscores Hockney’s lifelong embrace of new technologies—from Polaroid cameras and Xerox machines to iPads—and extends his artistic legacy into cutting-edge digital media. By transforming his paintings into ephemeral light sculptures, the event also highlights how cities leverage cultural programming and public art to boost tourism and civic identity, particularly as Bradford prepares for its year as U.K. City of Culture.