David Hockney, the British painter whose innovative work spanned six decades and transformed contemporary art, has died peacefully at his home on June 11, 2026, one month before his 89th birthday.
The Bradford-born artist rose to prominence during the 1960s pop art movement and became best known for his swimming pool paintings that captured the hedonistic essence of Los Angeles. Works such as "A Bigger Splash" and "Portrait of an Artist (Pool With Two Figures)" depicted scenes of love, desire and loss against Southern California's sun-soaked landscape, helping to define how the world viewed the region.
King Charles paid tribute to Hockney, describing him as "a giant of the world of art and painting, a Yorkshireman through and through, and a dear friend and inspiration to so many." Charles wrote that Hockney was a man of "irrepressible charm, talent and constant innovation" and "one of life's true originals." He noted that Hockney's beloved yellow Crocs, which he famously wore to meet the King in 2022, would "see him tread safely into the hereafter."
Prime Minister Keir Starmer also paid respects, saying Hockney's "vivid, instantly recognisable work influenced generations of artists."
Hockney's career extended far beyond his iconic swimming pool paintings. He produced perspective-shifting portraits using photo-collage techniques, experimented with abstract landscape painting, and in his later years explored 3D technology as a new artistic medium. Born in Bradford in 1937 to what he described as a "radical working-class family," Hockney studied at Bradford College and later at London's Royal College of Art, where he gained a reputation as a uniquely talented yet rebellious student.
His work challenged conservative attitudes toward sexuality and representation. His 1961 painting "We Two Boys Together Clinging," named after a Walt Whitman poem, was an early indicator of his willingness to depict gay life with honesty and openness during an era when homosexuality remained illegal in Britain.
Artist Tracey Emin described him as "a great artist and a wonderful man, who with the power of art changed the perception of Britishness. A proud chain-smoking homosexual, who flew the flag higher than any other British artist."
The Tate Britain announced plans for a major exhibition of his work next year, along with a multimedia installation at Tate Modern. The Pompidou Centre in Paris, which collaborated with Hockney on landmark exhibitions, described him as "unquestionably one of the major figures of contemporary art."
Hockney is survived by his long-time partner Jean-Pierre Gonçalves de Lima, his brothers Philip and John, and numerous nieces and nephews. His legacy encompasses works displayed in major museums worldwide and continues to command significant attention in the art market.