David Hockney: In this article, you would know everything about David Hockney- From his childhood to death. David Hockney- Life, paintings, contribution, death- Easy explanation.
David Hockney- Life, paintings, contribution, death- Easy explanation
Early life and beginnings
David Hockney is a significant contributor in the field of pop art movement who devoted his whole life for the advancement and development of pop art paintings. David Hockney was an English painter, printmaker and stage designer. As a pop art artist, he is a very influential British artist of the 20th century.
His studio was in Bridlington (coastal town), and along with this studio, David Hockney was the owner of two other residences in California. One was in Malibu (beach city in western Los Angeles) and second in Hollywood Hills (Hillside neighborhood).
David Hockney is known for painting and photography. In his notable work, we see many paintings works which are following-
- A Bigger Grand Canyon
- Garrowby Hill
- American Collectors (Fred and Marcia Weisman)
- Bigger Trees Near Warter
- Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)
- Peter Getting Out of Nick’s Pool
- Interior with Blue Terrace and Garden 2017
Because of these achievements, he received many awards. Many of these paintings, many became so famous in advertisement industry, and these most expensive artworks of David Hockney are displayed (featured) in many art galleries of the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
These are the following awards which were achieved by David Hockney.
- John Moores Painting Prize (1967)- It’s a biennial award which is given to best painting.
- Companion of Honour (1997)- Highest honor of Commonwealth realm.
- Royal Academician- It’s an art institute (Burlington House)
- Order of Merit 2012- Armed forces (Encourage promotion culture)
- Honorary Doctorate (1985), Otis College of Art and Design.
His student life was so unusual that it was full of artistic joy and exploration. David Oxtoby, Norman Stevens and John Loker were his fellow students. David Hockney met with R.B Kitaj (American artist), and along with this artist, David Hockney explored many artistic expression.
Personal life
Same as Andy Warhol and Keith Haring, David Hockney was also a gay who fought for the due rights of the Gay community. He explored the nature and love of “Gays.” In the painting- “We Two Boys Together Clinging” of 1961 which refers the love for men by men.
In the painting, Domestic Scene, he painted two men who were involved in whimsical activities. This painting was devoted to the renaissance of the Gay Liberation movement (Started by Keith Haring). In this painting both men are opposite to each other- one is showering, and another man is washing his back.
Peter Schlesinger was the physical partner of David Hockney with whom this artist was romantically involved. David Hockney had met Peter Schlesinger in 1966 while teaching at UCLA (The University of California, Los Angeles).
His personal life was not so stable because David Hockney was a drug addict and used to consume alcohol. His favorite cocaine was ecstasy and temazepam. But then also his contribution is huge in the field of the pop art movement.
Collections
There are so many art galleries and museums which feature the artworks of David Hockney from which some feature his artwork in their main displays such as Salts Mill (Former textile mill- Now an art gallery), The David Hockney Foundation and Honolulu Museum of Art.
These art galleries and museums which are the only medium through which you may take the joy of his paintings. The work of David Hockney is available in numerous private and public collections. These paintings are not only available in concerned countries but these paintings you may get worldwide.
List of Museums and Art Galleries.
- Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art
- Walker Art Center, Minneapolis
- Honolulu Museum of Art
- National Portrait Gallery, London
- Tate, U.K.
- Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris
- Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
- Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova, Turku, Finland
- MUMOK, Ludwig Foundation, Vienna
- Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
- National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. etc
Recognition
David Hockney was a distinguished Honoree of many art associations such as the National Arts Association (Los Angeles).
The painting of David Hockney – Peter getting out of Nick’s Pool” was a very famous painting of 1967 which won the “John Moores Painting prize.” This price was conferred to David Hockney at the Walker Art Gallery (Liverpool).
David Hockney had the honor of Knighthood designation, but in 1990 due to some reason, he declined that award before accepting another award – Order of Merit in 2012.
This pop art artist was very eminent who was awarded The Royal Photographic Society progress medal (1988). David Hockney had the Honorary Fellowship recognition in the field of pop art and other art forms.
Along with Andy Warhol, David Hockney was also famous for photography, the same as the production in “The Factory (Association of artists).” David Hockney also had his studio.
Approximate 1000 British sculptors and paintiner declared David Hockney Britain’s most influential artist of all time.
List of sources from where David Hockney got Recognition as an eminent Pop art artist. It is the list of awards, recognition, and medals.
- John Moores Painting Prize
- Order of Merit in January 2012
- The Royal Photographic Society Progress medal(1988)
- Companion of Honour in 1997[
- Designation- Royal Academician.
- Queen Elizabeth (II) appointed David Hockney to the Order of Merit in 2012.
- Honoree of the National Arts Association (Los Angeles)
- Board of Trustees (American Associates of the Royal Academy Trust)
- Foreign Honorary Membership (American Academy of Arts and Sciences.)
- 1,000 British Sculptors and Painters declared David Hockney Britain’s most influential.
Art market
John Kasmin had first represented David Hockney in 1963. John Kasmin was an art dealer (British art dealer). Then after this exhibition, he was represented by Annely Juda Fine Art (German art dealer).
David Hockney had started many art series from which many became so famous such as the depiction of the Grand Canyon- A Bigger Grand Canyon. It was the series of 60 canvases that were joint by pillars to produce one huge picture.
National Gallery of Australia had bought this painting. And still, its many imitations is featured in its main display.
Beverly Hills Housewife is the name of another painting which was made by David Hockney in 1967. It’s a 12-foot long sculpture which depicts the picture of American Philanthropist and fulltime photographer Betty Wishnick.
By the way, if you notice then the paintings of other Pop art artists are very costly. But on some occasions, the paintings of David Hockney attracted more price than these artists.
Public life
David Hockney was a staunch pro-tobacco campaigner who showed keenness in this campaign and also, we see a clear depiction of this campaign in his many paintings. Because of it, BBC Radio had invited Mr. David Hockney.
David Hockney was the guest on BBC Radio’s (Today Programme). Like his father, David Hockney was an honest objector. This artist was not only involved in the campaign against societal evil, but he was also a staunch pro-tobacco campaigner.
In his paintings, David Hockney has depicted many incidents of his life that’s why in 2011, 1,000 British sculptors and painters declared David Hockney Britain’s most influential artist of all time.
He was the founder of the Museum of Contemporary Art (Los Angeles). This museum is the contemporary art museum. It has three location- Greater Los Angeles and California.
David Hockney as a social activist worked against many social evils– David Hockney and other hundred artists had signed an open letter to the secretary (Secretary of State for Culture, Sport and Media). To raise the protest against cutbacks in the arts.
Books by Hockney
David Hockney has summarized his whole life in 498 pages, his explanation and elaboration of 60 years of his experience is a short movie that tells about many ups and downs in the field of the pop art movement.
The weight of his book was 78 lbs that had gone through 19 proofreading stages. David Hockney had unveiled his book in the Frankfurt Bookfair. And here, he was the keynote speaker. The ISBN of this book is 978-3-8365-0787-5.
Many books are written by other writers (concerned with pop art movement). And some of them are the imitation of his real book. These books are available in both Hardcopy (Real paperback) & Softcopy (E-book). In his book, especially in- David Hockney of 1976 and 72 Drawings of 1971, you get the rough idea about his life.
List of books that were written in his period that still give direction to all artists who want to get knowledge in the field of pop art and other art forms.
- 72 Drawings (1971)
- David Hockney (1976)
- Travels with Pen, Pencil, and Ink (1978)
- Pictures by David Hockney (ed. Nikos Stangos) (1979)
- Travels with Pen, Pencil and Ink (1980)
- Photographs (1982)
- Hockney’s Photographs (1983)
- David Hockney: Faces 1966–1984 (1987)
- Hockney’s Alphabet (with Stephen Spender) (1991)
- Picasso (1999)
- Une éducation artistique (1999)
- Hockney’s Pictures (2001)
- David Hockney: Poster Art (1995)
David Hockney Foundation
David Hockney Foundation has the collection of 8000 works of David Hockney. This collection comprises many famous paintings, complete editioned prints, watercolors, drawings, stage designs, and multi-camera movies, etc.
The contribution of “UK made this foundation registered charity- 1127262” and “the US- 501(c)(3). The contribution of these museums is very big. The mission of the foundation is straightforward- It wants to encourage art culture and understanding of visual art.
De Young Museum of San Francisco became the first executive director of this foundation “David Hockney Foundation” in 2017. Along with 8000 artworks of David Hockney, this museum also owns 203 sketchbooks and personal photos of David Hockney.
Along with artistic management of David Hockney artwork. This foundation also arranges funds and maintenance budget for many exhibitions and museums around the world. Some of them are very famous such as Happy Birthday, Mr. Hockney! And the Metropolitan Museum (Centre Georges Pompidou).
The Hockney–Falco thesis
Secret knowledge was the book name of David Hockney which was written by this pop art artist about the illegal imitation and copy of paintings through Camera lucida and Camera obscura.
These techniques were used to project the image of the subject on the surface (Paper & Canvas).
David Hockney was the staunch protestor of it. David Hockney has mentioned this technique in his book “Secret Knowledge.” This pop art artist had featured(showed) this book in 2001 when this technique (Paintings imitation through cameras) was on peak.
Indeed this technique is the symbol of modern art, but somewhere it demotivates the people concerned with the artistic world. David Hockney argued this art form strongly.
Along with this protest, we see many awareness campaigns which were conducted by this pop art artist.
The Hockney:- Falco thesis.
You may go directly to this Wikipedia page to know more about it. This book is the only part of this movement which was started by David Hockney to rediscover the lost techniques of traditional painting.
Biography
David Hockney was the fourth of five children and was born in Bradford (England). Wellington Primary School was his primary school from where he cultivated the interest of pop art.
He was from a well to do family, and his father Kenneth Hockney was a conscientious objector at the time of Second World War.
The Life of David Hockney was so stable in childhood. He moved to Los Angeles in 1964 where he started and practiced his painting work. David Hockney was inspired to make (paint) a series of paintings of swimming pools.
For the first time he had used vibrant color in his paintings, and here he got recognition countrywide in the field of pop art paintings. And for this artwork, he was commissioned, and then he rented a house. This house was situated in the Hollywood Hills.
David Hockney also owned a very big (1643 square food beach) house at Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.
Portraits
David Hockney painted many portraits which are based on the lifestyle of the LGBT community. It depicts the lifestyle of lovers, friends, and relatives. And the lifestyle of these characters has been portrayed very adroitly.
You may get bored because David Hockney has painted the same subject over and again and only this artist has changed their depiction style.
David Hockney had used a camera lucid (Optical device) in his artistic expression. It was the phase From 1999 to 2001 when this artist not only used this artificial technique but also showed the aspect of personal criticism against whimsical use of this technique.
- and Mrs. Clark and Percy (1971)
- Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) (1972)
- Beverly Hills Housewife (1967)
- American Collectors (Fred and Marcia Weisman) (1968)
- Peter Getting Out of Nick’s Pool (1966)
- A Bigger Splash (1967)
- Woldgate Woods series (2006)
- Bigger Trees Near Warter (2007)
- A Walk Around the Hotel Courtyard, Acatlan (1985)
- A Bigger Grand Canyon (1998)
Theatre works
David Hockney is a draftsman, printmaker, English painter, stage designer, and photographer. Due to these multiple personalities, David Hockney is famous among different fields.
David Hockney is a significant contributor, and he is a very famous personality in the field of the pop art movement, along with artistic expression, he is a very keen illustrator who worked for the betterment of pop art.
His paintings resemble with other pop art artists such as Andy Warhol and Keith Haring. Because these two artists also played a very crucial role in the field of pop art.
Important and famous “Theatre works”by David Hockney.
- London’s Royal Court Theatre (1966)
- The Magic Flute for Glyndebourne (1978)
- Metropolitan Opera House (Parade)
- L’Enfant et les sortilèges (1983)
- Spalding House branch (Honolulu Museum of Art.)
- Los Angeles Music Center Opera (1987)
- Richard Strauss’s Die Frau ohne Schatten(1992)
- Royal Opera House (London)
- Plácido Domingo’s Operalia of Mexico City
Printmaking
David Hockney has worked with pop art artists, and along with this profession, David Hockney was also a famous printmaker. He experimented with printmaking (a self-portrait in 1954) as early as in 1954 with the collaboration of other pop art artists.
In 1965, a very famous publisher Gemini GEL approached him to create a set of lithographs with a Los Angeles theme. And because of this request, David Hockney created a series of lithographs – The Hollywood Collection.
This is the collection of paintings of Hollywood stars, each piece of this series depict the lifestyle of every famous Hollywood stars. Some of them are- portfolios with Gemini G.E.L (including his friends) and “The Weather Series.”
Along with these prints, David Hockney also created many other such as Hogarth (Illustrations for Fourteen Poems), and in this series, Hogarth is English painter and pictorial satirist.
Exhibitions
He has been featured in over 500 group exhibitions and over 400 solo exhibitions. David Hockney had his first one-man show at a medium size place (Kasmin Limited). When David Hockney was 26 in 1963.
Whitechapel Gallery of London had organized the first several major retrospectives which were brought to three European institutions. And this institution(LACMA) had also hosted a retrospective exhibition in the year 1988.
There are so many art galleries and museums which exhibit the solo artworks of David Hockney. And some of them are very famous such as Whitechapel Gallery, Tate (London), National Portrait Gallery.
List of Art Galleries and Museums which has exhibited the solo exhibition of David Hockney.
- Whitechapel Gallery
- Tate, London
- National Portrait Gallery
- Schwäbisch Hall, Germany
- Royal Academy
- Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao
- Ludwig Museum in Cologne
- de Young Museum
- Tate Britain
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
David Hockney paintings
This pop art artist has been featured in over 400 solos and over 500 group exhibitions. You may see many taglines with this artist such as Oil paintings, Largest painting, Good painting, Life Painting, etc.
Description of his paintings:-
- Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)
It’s a large scale acrylic pop art painting, and it was completed in 1972 (May). The measurement of this painting is 7 ft × 10 ft (2.1 m × 3.0 m). It depicts two figures- first is swimming underwater and second is clothed male looking down at the swimming pool.
- A Bigger Splash
It’s also a painting of swimming pool, and to some extent, you may consider it the resemble of another painting of David Hockney. The painting name is Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)
- Mr. and Mrs. Clark and Percy
David Hockney between 1970 and 1971 painted this painting. This painting shows two characters standing in the opposite direction and seeing each other.
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