David Hockney, giant of British contemporary art, dies at 88
NBC News • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Renowned British contemporary artist David Hockney has died peacefully at home in London at the age of 88, just shy of his 89th birthday.
- Hockney was a pivotal figure in contemporary art, known for his distinctive pop art style that vividly captured 1960s Los Angeles, especially its modernist architecture and swimming pools.
- His famous works include "A Bigger Splash" and "Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)," the latter briefly holding the record for the most expensive painting by a living artist sold at auction.
- Besides painting, Hockney was an accomplished theater and opera designer and a passionate advocate for individual liberties, notably as a lifelong smoker.
- Tributes from figures such as London Mayor Sadiq Khan and entrepreneur James Dyson highlight Hockney's profound influence on art and culture over seven decades.