David Hockney, the revolutionary British painter known for his vivid swimming pool scenes, portraits, and relentless experimentation across media, died on Thursday in London at age 88. His publicist Erica Bolton confirmed the news. Hockney worked until the end, leaving behind a seven-decade career that spanned acrylics, watercolors, photo collages, iPad drawings, and immersive installations, with major retrospectives at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris (2024) and a current show at Serpentine North in London.
Hockney's death marks the loss of one of the most beloved and influential artists of the modern era. He redefined how we see the world—from his iconic swimming pool paintings like 'A Bigger Splash' (1967) to his monumental landscapes of Yorkshire and Normandy. As an openly gay artist who depicted queer life before decriminalization in the U.K., he also broke social barriers. His legacy includes honors like the Praemium Imperiale and the Order of Merit, and his work continues to shape contemporary art and popular culture.