British painter David Hockney, renowned for his vibrant depictions of 1960s and ’70s Los Angeles life, died in London on June 11 at age 88. His publicist Erica Bolton announced his death. Hockney rose to prominence in the 1960s by reviving figurative painting and the human form amid the era's abstraction, later embracing digital tools like the iPad and immersive art. His career included iconic works such as *A Bigger Splash* (1967) and *Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)* (1972), and he consistently depicted queer life, openly challenging censorship before homosexuality was decriminalized in England.
Hockney's death marks the loss of one of the most influential and beloved figures in contemporary art. His bold use of color, playful experimentation with media—from acrylics to photocollages to fax machines—and his unapologetic celebration of queer identity reshaped modern painting and expanded the boundaries of visual art. His legacy endures in his vast body of work, which continues to inspire artists and audiences worldwide, and in his role as a pioneer who made art accessible, joyful, and deeply human.