When it comes to art, there are plenty of ways for talented and expressive people to show off their talents. From writing to painting to drawing to popular and globally recognized manners like dancing and acting, there is no shortage of ways to express creativity. Many talents abound in the visual arts industry and David Hockney, the English painter and stage designer, is one of them.
He has become an icon in the art world with many of his works selling millions of copies. In this piece, we learn more about him and list five interesting things to know about the artist.
Who is David Hockney?
Fame, success and excellence have broughtdetailed details about the life of David Hockney. He was born on July 9, 1937 in Bradford, England to parents Kenneth Hockney and Laura Hockney. His arrival in the life of the Hockneys makes him the sixth member of a family of seven. David had humble beginnings, although he did not necessarily grow up in a poor family, nor in a wealthy family.
David Hockney was connected to art at a very young age in his life and this informed his formal education journey. After graduating from Bradford Grammar School, he attended Bradford College of Art where he was fortunate enough to be taught by some of the notable art teachers in England including the renowned Frank Lisle and John Loker. After completing his studies at Bradford College, he enrolled and studied at the Royal College of Art in London.
His reputation in the art community began to grow from his time at the Royal College of Art. He was part of the first movement of British pop art which had expressionist elements. Graduating from the Royal College of Art gave him the opportunity to teach at Maidstone College of Art for a short time before moving to Los Angeles in 1964, where he spent most of his career.
David Hockney has been responsible for several iconic works during his career. One of his earliest works is a 1962 painting titled Life Painting for a Degree. Other notables include Mr. and Mrs. Clark and Percy, A Bigger Shine, Peter Getting Out of Nick’s Pool, and A Bigger Canyon. Many of his works have sold for millions of dollars, including a 1972 painting, Portrait of an Artist (Two-Figure Pool), which sold for $90 million and became the work of art. the most expensive of a living artist. It was sold in 2018.
The famous artist is known to have a special interest in portraits and painted over 700 of them, over 300 of which are portraits of himself. Other mediums he has worked in include drawing, printmaking and photography. He is also an accomplished stage designer.
David has designed the stages for several notable theaters across Europe and the United States. From the Royal Court Theater in 1966 to the Los Angeles Music Center Opera in 1987, his work has graced several iconic theaters and he was awarded the San Francisco Opera Medal in 2017 for his works.
Five interesting things to know about David Hockney
1. David Hockney is a gay man
Even before it was culturally acceptable to be gay, David Hockney has always been a publicly gay man. Some of his works in the 60s were public celebrations of gay love and his own declarations of love for men. He has also been involved in a few high profile relationships, including one with Peter Schlesinger.
2. He had almost 1000 exposures
When it comes to artists, especially painters, exhibitions are the big show; their grand finales. Due to the volume of his work and the considerable interest it arouses, David Hockney has presented more than 400 individual exhibitions of his paintings and drawings, and more than 500 group exhibitions where his works have been presented with those of others.
3. He smokes marijuana
Probably surprising fact about David Hockney is that he is a cannabis lover. The legendary entertainer holds a California Medical Marijuana Verification Card allowing him to access cannabis for medical purposes.
4. He received several national honors
When you are as accomplished as David Hockney, not only are you compensated financially, but you receive national honours. The English painter has honors such as the Order of Companions of Honor and the Order of Merit. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Arts.
5. Hockney has defective hearing
David Hockney has been using hearing aids for over 40 years to treat a hearing condition that began very early in his life.