David Hockney, Celebrated British Artist, Passes Away at 88

WHO:

[06:58 AM EDT] - CBS News - Hockney's publicist, Erica Bolton, stated that he had "passed away peacefully at home" in London on Thursday.

[06:58 AM EDT] - CBS News - Hockney is survived by his long-time partner and companion Jean-Pierre Goncalves de Lima, two brothers, and "numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews."

BBC News - King Charles described David Hockney as "one of life's true originals."

[06:58 AM EDT] - CBS News - Hockney was awarded the Order of the Companions of Honour in 1997.

[06:58 AM EDT] - CBS News - Hockney's publicist, Erica Bolton, described him as "one of the most important figures in contemporary art in both the 20th and 21st centuries."

ABC News - Historian Simon Schama commented on Hockney's art, stating, “the popularity and durability of David Hockney’s art, through all his shape-shifts and restlessly inventive experiments, are really no mystery.”

[06:58 AM EDT] - CBS News - Hockney was awarded the rank of Officier in France's prestigious Legion d'Honneur in 2026.

CBS News - David Hockney, British artist, died at age 88.

CBS News - Hockney's publicist, Erica Bolton, confirmed his death.

CBS News - Hockney is survived by his long-time partner Jean-Pierre Goncalves de Lima, two brothers, and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

ABC News - Historian Simon Schama commented on Hockney's art.

WHAT:

[06:58 AM EDT] - CBS News - Hockney was lauded globally, with Britain bestowing the Order of the Companions of Honour in 1997, while in 2026, he became one of the few non-French citizens to be awarded the rank of Officier in France's prestigious Legion d'Honneur.

The Washington Post - Hockney died at his home in London on June 11.

[06:58 AM EDT] - CBS News - Hockney's publicist stated that he had "passed away peacefully at home" in London on Thursday.

ABC News - Hockney's publicist noted that he was a well-known figure in the swinging British and American art scenes of the 1960s, even before he reached the age of 30.

ABC News - Hockney's 1972 painting "Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)" sold for $90.3 million in 2018, setting a record for a living artist, but he was unseated by Jeff Koons' "Rabbit" a year later.

ABC News - In February 2020, Hockney's painting "The Splash," from 1966, sold at Sotheby’s for 23.1 million pounds ($30 million).

[06:58 AM EDT] - CBS News - Hockney's publicist described his career as "characterized by his multi-media approach in image making, an intellectual inquiry into the nature of depiction and perspective, and a sustained commitment to celebrating and portraying the world around him."

CBS News - Hockney passed away peacefully at home.

CBS News - He was considered one of the most important figures in contemporary art in both the 20th and 21st centuries.

CBS News - Hockney's painting "Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)" sold for $90.3 million in 2018, setting a record for a living artist.

ABC News - Hockney's works sold for record prices at auction.

AP News - Hockney's publicist stated he died a few weeks short of his 89th birthday.

WHERE:

The Washington Post - Hockney made Southern California his muse and home for much of his life.

ABC News - Hockney decorated the bottom of the swimming pool at the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles.

CBS News - Hockney died in London.

ABC News - Hockney lived much of his life in Southern California.

CBS News - Hockney returned to Europe later in life, finding inspiration in Yorkshire and Normandy.

WHEN:

[06:58 AM EDT] - CBS News - Hockney's first exhibition at London's Serpentine Gallery was currently being held.

The Washington Post - Hockney's death was reported on June 11, 2026.

[06:58 AM EDT] - CBS News - Hockney would have marked his 89th birthday next month.

ABC News - A major Hockney exhibition opened in April 2025 at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris.

[06:58 AM EDT] - CBS News - Hockney's first exhibition at London's Serpentine Gallery was conceived in close collaboration with the artist.

CBS News - Hockney was born on July 9, 1937.

CBS News - Hockney's first exhibition at London's Serpentine Gallery was currently being held.

CBS News - Future exhibitions at Tate, London, and the Munch Museum in Oslo were in development.

WHY:

[06:58 AM EDT] - CBS News - Hockney's career was characterized by a multi-media approach and a commitment to celebrating the world around him.

ABC News - Hockney's message during the 2020 coronavirus lockdown was, “Do remember they can’t cancel the spring.”

CBS News - Hockney's career was characterized by a multi-media approach and a commitment to celebrating the world around him.

HOW:

[06:58 AM EDT] - CBS News - Hockney's publicist noted that he "smoked up to the end."

[06:58 AM EDT] - CBS News - Hockney was globally renowned as a painter and master draughtsman and kept painting, experimenting, and exhibiting his acclaimed work right up until his death.

ABC News - Hockney's work included contributions to costume and set designs for theater and opera, including a celebrated production of “Tristan und Isolde” first staged in 1987 at the Los Angeles Opera.

[06:58 AM EDT] - CBS News - Hockney's publicist noted that he "smoked up to the end."

CBS News - Hockney's artistic influences included Renaissance portraitists, J.M.W. Turner, Pablo Picasso, and American pop art.

AP News - Hockney embraced various mediums including drawing, painting, printmaking, photo collage, and video throughout his career.

(UPDATED June 12, 2026 23:21 UTC)

David Hockney has passed away peacefully at home in London, according to his publicist, Erica Bolton. He is survived by his long-time partner, Jean-Pierre Goncalves de Lima, along with two brothers and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. Hockney was celebrated worldwide for his multi-media approach to art, receiving the Order of the Companions of Honour in 1997 and becoming one of the few non-French citizens to be awarded the rank of Officier in France's prestigious Legion d'Honneur in 2026.

(UPDATED June 12, 2026 21:28 UTC)

David Hockney, celebrated for his unique artistic vision, has passed away at his home in London. King Charles honored Hockney by calling him "one of life's true originals," reflecting on the profound impact he had on the art world. Throughout his life, Hockney made Southern California his muse and home, creating works that continue to inspire many.

(UPDATED June 12, 2026 19:35 UTC)

David Hockney, a globally renowned painter and master draughtsman, has passed away peacefully at home in London, according to his publicist. Hockney, who was awarded the Order of the Companions of Honour in 1997, would have celebrated his 89th birthday next month, leaving behind a legacy characterized by a multi-media approach and a commitment to celebrating the world around him. His publicist described him as "one of the most important figures in contemporary art in both the 20th and 21st centuries," highlighting the significant impact he had on the art world.

(UPDATED June 12, 2026 16:00 UTC)

Historian Simon Schama recently praised David Hockney's art, highlighting its enduring popularity and inventive spirit. Hockney, a prominent figure in the British and American art scenes of the 1960s, made headlines when his painting "Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)" sold for $90.3 million in 2018, a record for a living artist at the time. A major exhibition of Hockney's work opened in April 2025 at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, showcasing his contributions to various art forms, including theater and opera.

(UPDATED June 12, 2026 13:57 UTC)

David Hockney has been awarded the rank of Officier in France's prestigious Legion d'Honneur, recognizing his significant contributions to the art world. His publicist described Hockney's career as one marked by a multi-media approach to image making, an intellectual exploration of depiction and perspective, and a deep commitment to celebrating the world around him. Notably, his first exhibition at London's Serpentine Gallery was developed in close collaboration with the artist himself, showcasing his innovative vision.

(UPDATED June 12, 2026 12:06 UTC)

David Hockney, the renowned British artist who was a pivotal figure in contemporary art, has passed away peacefully at home in London at the age of 88, as confirmed by his publicist Erica Bolton. Hockney is survived by his long-time partner, Jean-Pierre Goncalves de Lima, along with two brothers and many nieces and nephews, and he leaves behind a legacy marked by record-breaking auction sales, including his painting "Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)" which sold for $90.3 million in 2018. His artistic journey spanned various mediums and was influenced by greats like J.M.W. Turner and Pablo Picasso, and he continued to inspire with upcoming exhibitions planned at Tate in London and the Munch Museum in Oslo.