100 Heroes: David Hockney
The gay man who became an iconic painter.
It's been announced that David Hockney has died. He was 88.
Who was David Hockney?
Early Life
Born in 1937 in Yorkshire, Hockney studied at the Bradford College of Art before continuing his studies at the Royal College of Art in London.
California
In 1964, Hockney moved to Los Angeles.
Here, Hockney began painting with acrylics and using bold and bright colours. His swimming pool series established a global reputation and defined his style.
The paintings were imbued not only with the sunshine of California, but also the freedom of queer life in Los Angeles - immersing us in the love, lust, and loss that Hockney was living.
With his signature bleach-blond hair, round, thick-rimmed spectacles and a cigarette dangling from his lip, Hockney was instantly recognisable and very visible on the LA party circuit.
The exhibition
The Tate museum in London already had plans in the works for a major retrospective of Hockney's work - presented at both Tate Britain and Tate Modern.
It's understood that the exhibition will presented in 2027.
Personal Life
Hockney publicly identified as a gay man and openly discussed his sexuality - which was often front and centre in his paintings.
Significant relationships included Peter Schlesinger, Gregory Evans, Ian Falconer, and Jean-Pierre Gonçalves de Lima.
