The King has led a wave of tributes to the artist David Hockney, hailed as a ‘giant of the art world’ following the news of his passing. Sources confirm that Buckingham Palace released a statement this morning, describing Hockney as ‘a visionary whose colour and light transformed British art forever.’ The nation, it seems, is united in grief for a man who spent seven decades painting the world in his own vivid likeness.
Hockney, 87, died at his home in Normandy, France, surrounded by close friends. The cause of death has not been officially confirmed, but those close to the artist point to a long battle with ill health. The news broke just after 8am, sending shockwaves through cultural circles from Los Angeles to London.
Museums across the country are already lowering their flags. The National Portrait Gallery, where Hockney’s self-portrait hung in a place of honour, announced it would open a book of condolence from noon. The Tate, which holds one of the largest collections of his work, said it would mount a special exhibition ‘in the coming weeks.’
But the tributes are not confined to the establishment. On the streets of Bradford, where Hockney was born in 1937 to a working-class family, locals gathered outside the former art school he attended. One woman, clutching a print of ‘A Bigger Splash’, said simply: ‘He showed us that colour could be joy.’
Hockney’s rise was improbable. The son of a clerk and a homemaker, he left Bradford for the Royal College of Art in London, where he quickly became a provocateur. His early works, like ‘We Two Boys Together Clinging’, were openly gay when homosexuality was still illegal. He refused to hide. He refused to apologise. That defiance would define his career.
From the swimming pools of Los Angeles to the landscapes of Yorkshire, Hockney never stopped experimenting. He embraced photography, stage design, even the iPhone. Every new medium was a tool to capture the same obsession: how light falls on the world.
But there was also the money. Hockney became one of the wealthiest living artists, his paintings fetching tens of millions at auction. A source close to his estate confirms that his portfolio was vast, including properties in London, California, and France. The tax implications, no doubt, will be scrutinised in the weeks ahead.
For now, however, the nation mourns. The King’s tribute, issued at 9am, called Hockney ‘a true original, whose work brought joy to millions and challenged us to see the world anew.’ The Prime Minister echoed the sentiment, posting on social media: ‘Britain has lost a giant. David Hockney’s art was a gift to the world.’
His legacy is secure. But the question of who now holds the keys to that legacy, and how it will be monetised, remains open. The art world is a business, after all, and Hockney knew that better than most.
