David Hockney dies at 88: The artist who turned a pool splash into a $90 million masterpiece

David Hockney, one of the most influential and famous artists of modern times, has died at the age of 88. The English painter, photographer, printmaker, scenographer and draftsman died on June 11, just weeks before his 89th birthday, according to a statement issued by his publicist.

In a career spanning more than six decades, Hockney has become one of the defining figures of contemporary art. Known for his vivid renderings of pools, portraits, landscapes and later digital artworks created on iPads, he has constantly reinvented his artistic style while remaining one of the art world’s most recognizable figures.

His works have fetched millions at auction, earned him international recognition and helped transform him into one of the most commercially successful living artists of his generation.

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An artist who found beauty in fleeting moments

Hockney’s artistic journey was marked by a fascination with impermanence and everyday experiences. Whether he was painting a splash in a pool, a friend standing in the sun, or the changing colors of a rural landscape, he sought to capture moments that often go unnoticed.

Among his most famous works was A Bigger Splash, a painting that immortalized the brief moment after a diver disappeared below the surface of the water.

Reflecting on the artwork, Hockney once said, “I liked the idea of painting this thing that lasts two seconds. It takes me two weeks to paint this event that lasts two seconds.”

This philosophy became central to much of his work, which often elevated ordinary scenes into lasting artistic statements.

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Record success of the auction

Hockney’s market value has steadily increased throughout his career, culminating in a historic moment in 2018.

At a Christie’s auction in New York, his painting Portrait of an Artist (Pool With Two Figures) sold for $90.3 million, setting a world record for a living artist at the time.

The sale surpassed the previous record of $58.4 million set by Jeff Koons for his Balloon Dog (Orange) sculpture.

Other works also claimed extraordinary prices. Beverly Hills Housewife sold for $7.9 million in 2009, while Woldgate Woods fetched $11.7 million at auction in 2016. In 2018, Pacific Coast Highway and Santa Monica sold for $28.5 million, more than double presale estimates.

From industrial England to global fame

Hockney was born in Bradford, England on 9 July 1937 and grew up in what he described as a “radical working class” household.

His mother supported his artistic interests from an early age, while his father, a conscientious objector during World War II, often stood aloof from mainstream society because of his political views.

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Hockney later recalled growing up in a city marked by wartime austerity and gray weather. California, on the other hand, became a dream destination long before he ever visited.

“Even as a kid, I knew it was sunny in Los Angeles because even when Laurel and Hardy wore overcoats, they cast long shadows,” he once told the New York Times. “There were no long shadows in Bradford. I noticed that. I thought, ‘Boy, it must be very sunny there.’ “

After studying at Bradford College of Art and later the prestigious Royal College of Art in London, Hockney quickly emerged as one of Britain’s brightest young talents.

His first solo exhibition in London sold out, paving the way for an international career that eventually took him to New York and California.

A pioneer who challenged artistic conventions

Like his contemporary and friend Andy Warhol, Hockney embraced new technologies and visual culture.

His paintings often included bold colors, unusual perspectives, and innovative approaches to composition. Later in life, he embraced digital tools and created artwork on tablets and iPads at a time when many traditional artists remained skeptical of such media.

His influence extended beyond painting. He designed sets for theatre, ballet and opera productions and experimented with photography, collage and multimedia installations.

One of his most recognized installations was Snails Space with Vari-Lites, “Painting as Performance”, a large-scale light-based artwork created in the mid-1990s. The installation later became part of the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

The museum described the work as “both a summation of Hockney’s career and a poignant example of his belief that art should ‘transcend the sterility of despair’.”

An openly gay artist who broke barriers

Hockney was also celebrated for being open about his sexuality at a time when homosexuality remained criminalized in Britain.

Works such as We Two Boys Clinging Together and Two Men in a Shower reflected his personal experiences and helped challenge societal attitudes through art.

Art critic Jonathan Jones wrote in 2004 that Hockney “is one of the few British artists of the 20th century who has added anything to the image bank of the world’s imagination”.

Jones added: “He was the first pop star of British art. But it wasn’t because he made simple pictures. His paintings clearly glorified gay sex… They were so innocent they disarmed everyone.”