David Hockney, the celebrated British artist, has died at his home on 11 June at the age of 88. Tributes have poured in from artists, curators, and museum directors, with figures such as Tracey Emin, Edmund de Waal, Marlene Dumas, and Mark Wallinger praising his genius across painting, drawing, printmaking, and digital media. Institutions including the Victoria and Albert Museum and The Courtauld Institute of Art have honored his legacy, while Nicholas Serota of Arts Council England noted the nearly one million visitors to his recent Paris exhibition at the Fondation Louis Vuitton.
Hockney's death marks the loss of a transformative figure in British art and LGBTQ visibility. His work, which celebrated same-sex love at a time when homosexuality was illegal in the UK, is recognized as both a bold act of protest and a profound artistic achievement. His constant experimentation with new technologies—from photo collages to iPad paintings—and his influence on how we see the world ensure his legacy will endure across generations.