A representative has confirmed that the funeral of celebrated British artist David Hockney has occurred. The 88-year-old artist passed away at his London residence earlier this month, drawing expressions of grief from national leaders, the Royal Family, and his peers. Following the artist’s specific instructions, only his partner, Jean-Pierre Goncalves de Lima, and his great-nephew, Richard Hockney, were present at the service.
Publicist Erica Bolton noted that several memorial events are planned for next year. These will begin in London this spring, followed by gatherings in Paris, Los Angeles, and his birthplace of Yorkshire. Most of Hockney’s extensive collection of work is expected to move into the care of public institutions to ensure his artistic legacy remains intact.
Throughout a seven-decade career, Hockney established himself as a central figure in the 1960s pop art movement. He was renowned for diverse projects, ranging from vibrant depictions of Yorkshire landscapes to his iconic paintings of swimming pools in California. His 2018 auction sale for Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) reached nearly £70 million, setting a record for a living artist at the time. King Charles, Queen Camilla, and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer all publicly honored his contributions, while artist Dame Tracey Emin lauded his influence on British identity.
Current displays of his work include an exhibition at London’s Serpentine Galleries running through August. Looking ahead, 2026 will feature major retrospectives at Tate Modern and Tate Britain to commemorate what would have been his 90th birthday.