9 July: David Hockney, Painter

b. July 9, 1937

It is very good advice to believe only what an artist does, rather than what he says about his work.

Initially famous for popularizing British pop art in the 1960s, David Hockney grew more influential as he showcased exceptional artistic flexibility. From oil paintings to lithography, photomontage to computer sketch, Hockney demonstrated an uncanny ability to adapt his creative talents to various media. The Hockney exhibit in the National Portrait Gallery in London from October 2006 to January 2007 was one of the Gallery's most successful exhibitions.

Hockney began to display his work while at the Royal College of Arts in London in 1949. At a featured exhibition, he presented paintings which became forerunners of British pop art. Hockney won a gold medal for outstanding distinction at the college's convocation ceremony.

Hockney's early work often explored homosexual themes. "We Two Boys Together Clinging" (1961), titled after a Walt Whitman poem of the same name, became one of his more famous works. Lithography enticed Hockney in the early 1960s when he began to make prints of paintings. "Mr. and Mrs. Clark and Percy" (1971) is one of the most popular paintings in London's Tate Gallery.

Bibliography

“David Hockney Biography.” Modern British Artist: 20th Century British & International Contemporary Artists. July 3, 2007

“David Hockney Interview.” bbc.co.uk: The John Tusa Interviews. July 3, 2007

Luckhardt, Ulrich and Paul Melia. David Hockney: Paintings (Art & Design). Prestel. 2000

Selected Works

David Hockney's Dog Days (September 25, 2006)

Secret Knowledge: Rediscovering the Lost Techniques of the Old Masters (October 5, 2006)

Related articles

• David Hockney: A man aflame - and long before the smoking ban (independent.co.uk)