Here are some facts about David Hockney, the English artist.
- David Hockney was born on 9th July 1937 in Bradford, England.
- He went to school at Bradford Grammar School and then attended Bradford College and the Royal College of Art in London.
- His father, Kenneth Hockney, was a conscientious objector during World War 1.
- He completed a series of painting in acrylics of swimming pools (following a visit to California).
- Hockney lived in Los Angeles from 1964 to 1968.
- He also lived in Paris during the 1970s.
- David Hockney was friends with fellow artist, Andy Warhol.
- In the 1980s, Hockney experimented with photocollage – joining and combining photos (often taken with a Polaroid camera) to form a patchwork image.
- He is a massive admirer of Pablo Picasso.
- Hockney is an avid user of the Brushes iPhone app. He uses it to draw portraits and send them to friends.
- He has designed sets and costumes for ballets and operas.
- David Hockney is openly gay.
- His paintings sell for millions of dollars.
- The Tate Gallery says he is ‘perhaps the most popular and versatile British artist of the 20th century’.
What next? Learn more about other famous artists.