Considered to be one of the most influential British artists of the 20th Century, David Hockney, was born in Bradford, England in 1937. Interested in art at an early age, Hockney often admired the work of Picasso and Matisse. In 1959, he began graduate school at the Royal College of Art in London. Hockney then moved to Los Angeles in 1966 and began to paint swimming pools using vibrant colors, some of his most iconic subjects. His realist style began to take shape when he started painting the bright interiors and exteriors of California homes, conveying light and reflection within the space. While working on a series of interiors, he began experimenting with photo collage, beginning with an assemblage of photos laid out in a grid format known as his “joiners” to make a composite image. In 1970, Hockney’s first retrospective was held at the Whitechapel Gallery in London which traveled to three other European institutions. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, he continued to explore various artistic mediums including photography, lithography, as well as set and costume design. In the 1980s he returned his focus to painting favored subject matter such as seascapes, still-lifes, and portraits. As technology developed, Hockney began experimenting using a photocopier and laser jet printer for his prints. His ongoing fascination between art and technology has continued today using the Brushes application on iPhones and iPads to create a new form of painting. David Hockney lives and works in London.
