With the success of his 2012 landscape exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts still looming large, David Hockney returns once more to the RA. This time, he's occupying the Sackler Wing, with an intimate exhibition of recent portraits.
Painted over the last two and a half years in Hockney’s studio in Los Angeles, the exhibition is a window into his life in the City of Angels, with the subject of each portrait personally invited by the artist to sit for him. They range from friends and family to acquaintances and staff, and include recognisable figures such as Larry Gagosian, Jacob Rothschild, Frank Gehry and Celia Birtwell, as well as Hockney’s siblings.
Though the number of portraits is expansive, each has been created with a sense of uniformity; all are painted on the same size canvas within three days, and depict its subject seated in the same chair against a bright blue background. In doing so, Hockney aims to place emphasis on the personalities of his subjects, as well as his own development in the medium of acrylic paint. To highlight this progression, the works are hung chronologically throughout the galleries. The exhibition is curated through a close collaboration between Edith Devaney, curator of contemporary projects at the RA, and Hockney himself.
In addition to the portraits showcased, the RA will also release an illustrated book containing interviews with the artist, photographs of several of the paintings in the process of being completed, and an exploration of Hockney’s portraiture by Tim Barringer, Paul Mellon professor of the history of art at Yale University.
Painted over the last two and a half years in Hockney’s studio in Los Angeles, the exhibition is a window into his life in the City of Angels, with the subject of each portrait personally invited by the artist to sit for him
Though the number of portraits is expansive, each has been created with a sense of uniformity: all are painted on the same size canvas within three days, and depict its subject seated in the same chair against a bright blue background. Pictured: Jacob Rothschild, 5th, 6th February, 2014. Copyright the artist
They range from friends and family to acquaintances and staff. Pictured: John Baldessari, 13th, 16th December, 2013. Copyright the artist
Hockney aims to place emphasis on the personalities of his subjects, as well as his own development in the medium of acrylic paint. Pictured: Rita Pynoos, 1st, 2nd March, 2014. Copyright the artist
To highlight this progression, the works are hung chronologically throughout the galleries. Pictured: David Juda, 22nd, 23rd, 25th March, 2015. Copyright the artist
Barry Humphries, 26th, 27th, 28th March, 2015. Copyright the artist
Rufus Hale, 23rd, 24th, 25th November, 2015. Copyright the artist
INFORMATION
’David Hockney: 82 Portraits and 1 Still-life’ is on view until 2 October. For more information, visit the RA’s website (opens in new tab)
ADDRESS
The Sackler Wing
Royal Academy of Arts
Burlington House
Piccadilly
London, W1J 0BD
-
Glenmorangie unveils a whisky inspired by rugged Scottish forestsGlenmorangie’s A Tale of the Forest uses an ancient Highland method for drying barley to create a distinctive taste
-
Odile Mir: exploring the creative life of a self-taught polymath
Nonagenarian French artist Odile Mir is back for an encore, thanks to her granddaughter’s role in reissuing her modernist designs
-
Samuel Ross on the architectural influences behind his Acqua di Parma collaboration
Samuel Ross discusses the inspiration behind his redesign of Acqua di Parma’s iconic Colonia fragrance
-
David Hockney at Lightroom: a technologically spectacular journey, but is it art?
As David Hockney’s much-anticipated, and critically divided ‘Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away)’ opens at Lightroom, London, writer Will Jennings sifts through the burgeoning landscape of immersive art experiences
-
As David Hockney’s immersive art show in London opens, here’s what to expect
‘David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away)’ is now open at London’s Lightroom (until 4 June 2023)
-
New York photography show sees cultural icons – from David Hockney to Maya Angelou – in unguarded moments
‘Face to Face’ at New York’s International Center of Photography (27 January – 1 May 2023) sees cultural icons shot by Tacita Dean, Brigitte Lacombe and Catherine Opie
-
Inez & Vinoodh on 35 years of radical photography, being ‘two brains, one person', and judging our Design Awards
Dutch photography duo and Wallpaper* Design Awards 2023 judges Inez & Vinoodh discuss image manipulation, design aspirations, and capturing the legendary Julianne Moore
-
William Kentridge on failed utopias and transcending borders: ‘art must defend the uncertain’
Azu Nwagbogu profiles South African artist William Kentridge, whose show at London's Royal Academy of Arts runs until 11 December 2022
-
A poignant exploration of the lives of transgender and gender non-conforming older people
To celebrate Pride Month 2022, we revisit photographer Jess T Dugan’s series of intimate portraits of transgender adults over 50, first explored by Wallpaper* in this 2020 article on the occasion of an exhibition at Minneapolis Institute of Art
-
2022 Royal Academy Architecture Prize recognises Renée Gailhoustet
The 2022 Royal Academy Architecture Prize is awarded to Renée Gailhoustet, with the shortlist for the 2022 Royal Academy Dorfman Award revealed at the same time
-
Chris Levine on creating his iconic portrait of Queen Elizabeth II: ‘I was the wild card’
For the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, we spoke to artist Chris Levine about the making of his iconic hologram portraits of Her Majesty. He reflects on two years of preparation, that fateful day in Buckingham Palace, and Lightness of Being, the outtake that almost outshone the original
