#davidhockney

“When I went to art school, a neighbor said, ‘Some of the people in the art school just don’t work at all. Lazy buggers.’ And I said, ‘Oh, I am going to work, don’t worry.” And I did. “I knew when I was very young that gay people hid things and I didn’t want to do that I thought: ‘Well, I’m just going to be an artist, I have to be honest.” “Love is the only serious subject.” “Drawing makes you see clearer and clearer, and clearer still.” “I draw flowers every day on my iPad and send them to my friends so they get fresh blooms every morning.” “Artists, even when they’re dead, are alive in their work.”

Quotes are from “The World According to David Hockney”

In remembrance of David Hockney, who passed away at the age of 88 on June 11th, 2026, the Fine Arts Library is showcasing selected publications about his work in the Pride Month Books display in the Reading Room. Elsewhere in the Reading Room, you will also see what is featured in the video—an accordion book entitled “David Hockney: A Year in Normandie” that we have spread out for viewing.  

David Hockney (July 9, 1937 – June 11, 2026) was a British painter known for his vivid and stylized portraits, sunny scenes from his time spent in Los Angeles, and bold landscapes. His subjects were deeply personal—often his friends, loved ones, parents, and later, his dachshund friends Stanley and Boodgie. Hockney was openly gay. He painted his lovers and naked young men, but also imbued male desire in various other images and celebrated gay life—intimacy, love, friendships, beauty, and desires—without explicitly describing them. In his work, they were felt as a constant presence in the air, and he captured them with love.

Since the beginning of 2019, Hockney made his home in Normandy, France. He had been using an iPad for a decade in his work, but during the pandemic, he focused on the surrounding countryside, creating more than 100 images on his iPad in just a few weeks.

"I think I’m greedy, but I’m not greedy for money. I’m greedy for an exciting life."

~David Hockney

In Memoriam: David Hockney (1937–2026) 🌈

One of the most influential artists of our time, David Hockney was also one of the first major artists to live and work openly as a gay man.

His paintings helped bring gay life, love, and relationships into the mainstream of contemporary art, and his influence can still be seen today.