David Hockney

David Hockney (1937–2026) was one of the most influential British artists of the postwar and contemporary era. Rising to prominence in the 1960s as a leading figure of British Pop Art, he became internationally celebrated for his luminous depictions of Southern California—most notably his swimming pool paintings—alongside psychologically incisive double portraits and, later in his career, pioneering digital works made on the iPad. Over a seven-decade practice spanning painting, photography, printmaking, and stage design, Hockney's work entered the collections of major institutions including Tate Britain and Tate Modern. His auction record of $90.3 million, set in 2018 for Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures), remains among the highest ever achieved by a living artist at the time of sale. Hockney passed away in June 2026 at his home in London.