Celebrated British artist David Hockney dies at 88, leaving behind a legacy of modern art

Celebrated British artist David Hockney, a pivotal figure in contemporary art across the 20th and 21st centuries, has passed away peacefully at his home on June 11, 2026, at the age of 88. His publicist confirmed the death, noting it occurred just weeks before his 89th birthday. Hockney leaves behind an extensive and influential body of work that cemented his status as one of the most significant artists of his era.

Throughout his prolific career spanning over six decades, Hockney was renowned for his groundbreaking contributions to the pop art movement, particularly his iconic vibrant paintings of Los Angeles swimming pools. He consistently pushed artistic boundaries, exploring diverse mediums including drawing, printmaking, photo-collage "joiners," and later experimenting with digital art and set design for operas. His work, which often captured themes of love, loss, and the California aesthetic, has fetched record-breaking sums, including his 1972 masterpiece "Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)," which became one of the highest-selling paintings by a living artist at the time.