- British artist David Hockney, celebrated for his iconic depictions of Los Angeles swimming pools and the landscapes of his native Yorkshire, passed away peacefully at home on 11 June 2026, aged 88 , just shy of his 89th birthday.
- Born in Bradford in 1937, Hockney was a prolific artist who moved to Los Angeles in the 1960s, where he became renowned for capturing the city's vibrant aesthetic and openly exploring themes of gay love in his work, a pioneering move for his time.
- His most famous works include the Splash trilogy and Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) , which became one of the most expensive works by a living artist ever sold at auction, fetching $90.3m.
- Throughout his career, Hockney continuously experimented with diverse mediums, from painting and printmaking to photography and digital art, later finding new inspiration in the Yorkshire countryside and the changing seasons of Normandy, where he moved in 2015, and embracing technology for immersive exhibitions.
- Despite often declining official honours, including a knighthood, Hockney was appointed to the Order of Merit in 2012 and was widely regarded as one of the most significant artists of his generation, with critics comparing him to Picasso for his ability to transform perception and evoke joy.
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