London

Renowned British artist David Hockney, celebrated for his luminous depictions of California swimming pools and his relentless artistic experimentation, died on Thursday at the age of 88.

His publicist, Erica Bolton, confirmed the news, saying Hockney passed away just weeks before his 89th birthday.

One of the most influential and beloved artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, Hockney transformed everyday scenes into vibrant meditations on light, colour and human connection. Over a career spanning more than six decades, he constantly reinvented his style while remaining unmistakably himself.

Historian Simon Schama once observed that the enduring appeal of Hockney's work lay in its embrace of joy.

"His work is admired -- loved is not too strong a word -- because it presupposes an expectation of pleasure," Schama wrote in an essay accompanying a 2025 exhibition of Hockney's work in Paris.

From Bradford to global fame

Born on July 9, 1937, in Bradford, Hockney grew up in an industrial city known for its wool trade before studying at the Royal College of Art in London.

His talent became evident early. Art dealer John Kasmin began representing him in 1961, even before he graduated.

Drawing inspiration from artists as varied as J. M. W. Turner, Pablo Picasso, Renaissance masters and American pop artists, Hockney developed a visual language uniquely his own.

A visit to the United States in 1963-64 introduced him to a country that would profoundly shape his art and identity.

The California dream

Hockney's move to Los Angeles inspired some of his most celebrated works.

Captivated by Southern California's brilliant light and suburban landscapes, he created paintings featuring swimming pools, palm trees and modern architecture that became synonymous with his name.

Works such as A Bigger Splash and Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) captured a dreamlike vision of Californian life through flattened forms, bold colours and shimmering surfaces.

"I never find anything dreary in Los Angeles," Hockney once remarked.

His fascination with pools extended beyond canvas. He even painted the bottom of the swimming pool at the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

A pioneering voice

As an openly gay artist at a time when homosexuality remained illegal in Britain, Hockney also broke social barriers.

Paintings such as We Two Boys Together Clinging and Two Men in a Shower celebrated same-sex relationships with warmth and tenderness.

Friends, lovers and acquaintances frequently appeared as subjects in his work, while male bodies received the same artistic attention traditionally reserved for female nudes.

His honesty and openness made him an important figure not only in art history but also in LGBTQ representation.

Reinvention and later years

Although California defined much of his public image, Hockney's later years were marked by continual reinvention.

He returned to Yorkshire, rediscovering the countryside of his youth through expansive landscape paintings.

Later, he settled partly in Normandy, where changing seasons inspired a new body of work.

Never afraid of technology, Hockney embraced digital media, producing acclaimed drawings using iPhones and iPads, proving that artistic innovation had no age limit.

Record-breaking success

Hockney's popularity translated into extraordinary commercial success.

In 2018, Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) sold at a Christie's auction for USD 90.3 million, setting a then-record price for a work by a living artist.

In 2020, The Splash fetched GBP 23.1 million at Sotheby's.

Yet Hockney often measured wealth differently.

"The moment I first sold pictures to earn a living, I felt rich. I've been rich ever since," he told AP in 1995. "You are a rich man if you do the things you want to do."

An enduring legacy

From Bradford's industrial streets to Los Angeles swimming pools and Normandy orchards, David Hockney consistently invited viewers to look more closely at the world around them.

His art celebrated beauty, intimacy, curiosity and optimism. Whether through acrylic paint, photography or digital devices, he remained devoted to experimentation and to the simple act of seeing.

READ MORE: Srinagar: leaders, civil society members protest against PoJK killings

His passing marks the end of an extraordinary artistic journey, but his vivid visions of light, landscape and human connection will continue to inspire generations around the world.