David Hockney dies: British artist was 88

Hockney's career spanned more than six decades. He first gained international attention in the 1960s with his Pop art-influenced paintings and later with his monumental pool paintings.

A life's work spanning six decades

Alongside his California paintings, Hockney engaged intensively with portraits, double portraits and large-scale landscapes. Depictions of his home county of Yorkshire as well as photographic collages were also part of his œuvre.

Hockney lived at various times in the United States and in France, but repeatedly returned to Great Britain. His death marks the end of an artistic career that influenced generations of painters.

The news of his death prompted dismay in the international art world and beyond. Museums and galleries paid tribute to Hockney as a central figure in contemporary art.

Reactions from the art world

Hockney's works are represented in numerous major collections, including the Tate Modern in London and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. His exhibitions drew millions of visitors over the decades.

With Hockney's death, the art world loses an artist who repeatedly pushed the boundaries between Pop, realism and digital experimentation. According to critics, his influence on subsequent generations remains clearly visible.

PA reported the death citing the artist's publicist. Further details on the background and on memorial arrangements were not initially known.