David Hockney: Celebrated British artist dies at 88
CNN • • general
Key Points:
- Renowned British painter David Hockney, famous for his vibrant portraits and sunlit scenes, has died peacefully at home at age 88, just shy of his 89th birthday.
- Hockney was a key figure in the Pop Art movement, known for his personal realist style featuring self-portraits, friends, lovers, and later his dachshunds, often exploring themes of sexuality and domestic life.
- His diverse body of work included painting, photography, printmaking, stage design, and digital art, with record-breaking auction sales such as "Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)" selling for $90.3 million in 2018.
- Despite his commercial success, Hockney remained focused on creating art, continuing to paint daily into his 80s and embracing new technologies like the iPad for digital artworks.
- Celebrated for his inventiveness and joy in observation, Hockney received numerous honors including membership in the Royal Academy and the Order of Merit, and was widely regarded as one of contemporary art’s most important figures.