David Hockney

British, 1937-2026

The art of David Hockney is always engaging in its pleasant ambiguities: his prints, drawings and paintings are warm but somehow aloof; filled with light yet often dark and brooding in subject; simple, frank and mundane, but also ethereal and complex. The artist’s stature in the contemporary art world is such that, in a 2011 survey of one thousand British painters and sculptors, he was named the most influential British artist of all time.

Hockney grew up in Bradford, in the northern English county of Yorkshire, studying at the Bradford School of Art from 1953 to ’57, and at the Royal College of Art in London from 1959 to 1962. Though he was educated in art at a time when abstraction dominated the field, Hockney stuck resolutely to figurative painting and drawing.

Hockney's early paintings suggest a search for a style, veering from Expressionism to a grotesquerie suggestive of James Ensor. But Hockney found himself almost the moment he arrived in Los Angeles, in 1963. The move from the gray and rainy Britain to a world of bright sunshine and sparkling water brought Hockney a sense of freedom and an artistic epiphany. He would spend most of the next five years in L.A., painting luminous pictures, such as A Bigger Splash (1967), of things that made him happy: swimming pools, manicured lawns, palm trees, stucco buildings and luxuries like shower stalls. Hockney also painted people, almost always his friends. His California portraits such as Beverly Hills Housewife (1966) are considered to be his finest work. They are at once grandly scaled, intimate and poetic.

In the 1970s, Hockney moved back to Britain and spent much of his time on photography and printmaking. He returned to painting in the 1980s, and to subjects like still lifes, seascapes and portraits. Hockney has always been fascinated by the use of technology in art — he’s credited with inventing the technique of joining Polaroid photos in a collage to form a panoramic picture — and has been using the Brush app to paint on an iPad. Because he was prolific and worked in a wide range of mediums, Hockney’s art is available at many price points. His consistently striking and provocative work should have a place in any comprehensive collection of contemporary art.

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Average Sold Price

$1,840

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David HockneyHockney's Alphabet, portfolio of 26 lithographs signed by Hockney and 23 writers, 1991

$14,500

H 12.63 in W 9.63 in D 1.5 in

Hockney's Alphabet, portfolio of 26 lithographs signed by Hockney and 23 writers

By David Hockney

Located in New York, NY

David Hockney Hockney's Alphabet, 1991 26 color lithographs in Fine Art Cartridge paper bound in quarter vellum with handmade Fabriano Roma paper sides, housed in matching box; signe...

Category

1990s Pop Art David Hockney

Materials

Lithograph

David HockneyNorth Yorkshire By David Hockney, 1997

$818

H 19.69 in W 24.41 in

North Yorkshire By David Hockney

By David Hockney

Located in Dubai, Dubai

North Yorkshire By David Hockney 1997 Medium: Offset Lithograph Paper Size: 19.75 x 24.25 inches ( 50 x 62 cm ) Image Size: 19.75 x 24.25 inches ( 50 x 62 cm ) Edition Size: Un...

Category

1990s Contemporary David Hockney

Materials

Lithograph, Offset

$475,000

H 93 in W 42 in

Less Trees Near Warter - Digital Landscape Drawing, Limited Edition, 2009

By David Hockney

Located in Palm Desert, CA

David Hockney's "Less Trees Near Warter" (2009) is a deliberate, melancholic sequel — its title a pointed inversion of "Bigger Trees Near Warter," the 2007 celebration of a Yorkshire...

Category

Early 2000s Post-War David Hockney

Materials

Paper, Inkjet

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David Hockney Sale Prices

Sold Date

Sold Price

Category

Medium

Creation Year

2026	$350	Prints and Multiples	Offset Print	1983
2026	$136	Prints and Multiples	Offset Print	1988
2026	$900	Landscape Prints, Figurative Prints	Etching, Aquatint	1969
2026	$133	Prints and Multiples	Offset Print	2016
2026	$245	Interior Prints, Figurative Prints	Lithograph	1982
2026	$664	Posters	Paper	2001
2026	$805	Figurative Prints	Lithograph	1972
2026	$10,000	Prints and Multiples	Paper, Lithograph	1979
2026	$300	Portrait Prints, Animal Prints	Offset Print	1993
2026	$18,000	Portrait Prints	Lithograph	1976
2026	$245	Portrait Prints, Figurative Prints	Lithograph	1970
2026	$225	Animal Prints	Offset Print	1995
2026	$5,841	Prints and Multiples	Lithograph	1991
2026	$5,200	Abstract Prints	Offset Print	1982
2026	$4,447	Animal Prints, Figurative Prints	Etching, Aquatint	1969
2026	$760	Books	Paper	1993
2026	$1,275	Portrait Prints, Prints and Multiples	Lithograph	1979
2026	$280	Prints and Multiples	Offset Print	1968
2026	$750	Figurative Prints, Landscape Prints	Lithograph	1991
2026	$1,521	Figurative Prints, Portrait Prints	Postcard	1993

$1,840

Average sold price of items in the past 12 months

$90-$24,000

Sold price range of items in the past 12 months

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David Hockney art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic David Hockney art available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of art to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of blue and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by David Hockney in lithograph, paper, offset print and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the Pop Art style. Not every interior allows for large David Hockney art, so small editions measuring 7 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Jim Dine, Roy Lichtenstein, and Yayoi Kusama. David Hockney art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $75 and tops out at $249,950, while the average work can sell for $8,000.

Questions About David Hockney

What technique did David Hockney use?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
David Hockey was one of the first artists to use acrylics. He would paint large areas of one color, then would add finer details over top. Shop a selection of David Hockney’s pieces from some of the world’s top art dealers on 1stDibs.
What type of photography did David Hockney do?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
David Hockney was known for creating photo collages and photo montages. He would take polaroid photos and use the images to compose his patchwork of art. You can shop a selection of David Hockey’s pieces from some of the world’s top art dealers on 1stDibs.
What are some interesting facts about David Hockney?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 13, 2024
There are several interesting facts about David Hockney. For one, the British artist refused to write an essay for his final exam at the Royal College of Art and instead submitted a sketch of his diploma, prompting the school to change the rules in order to allow him to graduate. He also has synesthesia, which allows him to see colors when he listens to music. In 1990, he turned down the opportunity to be knighted by the Queen of England. Another fact is that Hockney has always been fascinated by the use of technology in art. He is credited with inventing the technique of joining Polaroid photos in a collage to form a panoramic picture, and he has recently been using the Brush app to paint on an iPad. On 1stDibs, find a selection of David Hockney art.
How do I make a David Hockney collage?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
A digital collage, much like the ones by artist David Hockney, can be made by taking many photographs from one place. Take your collection of photos to photoshop and work in the collage, but do not blend the images. Photoshop will put the images in layers and you can adjust them. You’ll want to adjust them and play with the color and shadow to get your own effect. Shop a selection of original Hockney pieces from some of the world’s top art dealers on 1stDibs.
Where can I buy David Hockney prints?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
Reproductions of David Hockney’s art are very popular and can be found online as well as in many physical retail stores and art stores. Finding original fine-art prints that Hockney created — prints created specifically to be made into a limited edition — is a bit more difficult, but they can be located at art galleries, auction houses and various online platforms. Shop a selection of authentic David Hockney prints from some of the world’s top art dealers on 1stDibs.
What is David Hockney's art style?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
David Hockney is known as an important artist in the pop art movement. His paintings and photo collages of Los Angeles swimming pools are what are most frequently referenced when talking about his works. Today David Hockney has moved into the digital art arena and continues to push artistic boundaries. Shop a selection of David Hockney pieces from some of the world’s top art dealers on 1stDibs.
What is David Hockney's most famous piece?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMay 30, 2024
What David Hockney's most famous piece is can be debated. Many experts state that the British artist’s best-known work is 1967's A Bigger Splash, which shows a swimming pool viewed on a sunny day. Other popular works by Hockney include The Splash (1967), Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy (1971), Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) (1972), My Parents (1977) and Self Portrait with Red Braces (2003). Explore a selection of David Hockney art on 1stDibs.
How much is David Hockney's art worth?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertSeptember 16, 2024
How much David Hockney's art is worth depends on its medium, size, history, condition and other factors. In 2018, his Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures), produced in 1972, sold for over $90 million at an auction in New York. The art of David Hockney is engaging in its ambiguities; his prints, drawings and paintings are warm but aloof, filled with light yet often dark and brooding in subject. His stature in the contemporary art world is such that he was named the most influential British artist of all time in a 2011 survey of one thousand British painters and sculptors. If you own a Hockney piece, a certified appraiser or knowledgeable art dealer can be of assistance during the valuation process. On 1stDibs, find a collection of David Hockney art.