David Hockney Self Portraits (All Photos By Gail)

The art world lost one of its brightest voices this week with the passing of British artist David Hockney, who died peacefully at home on June 11, 2026  at the age of 88.

Over a career spanning more than seven decades, Hockney transformed the everyday into something extraordinary. From his iconic California swimming pools and intimate portraits to his vibrant Yorkshire landscapes and groundbreaking iPad drawings, his work celebrated the joy of looking closely at the world around us.

Artist and Model

Hockney embraced new technologies with the curiosity of a lifelong student, proving that artistic innovation has no age limit.

For many, Hockney’s paintings were an introduction to contemporary art — bold, colorful, accessible, and deeply human. As an openly gay artist working at a time when such visibility carried real risks, he also helped expand what stories could be told through art.

Gregory In The Pool

David Hockney once encouraged us to “love life,” and his art reflected that philosophy in every luminous brushstroke. His legacy endures not only in museums and private collections, but in the countless people he inspired to see beauty, color, and possibility in the world around them. He will be greatly missed.

Installation View From the Exhibit Drawing From Life (2021)  at the Morgan Library. NYC