Hockney death: Starmer and cultural leaders pay tribute to British art icon
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer joins tributes to the artist, whose seven-decade career redefined British visual culture and influenced generations of creators.
David Hockney, one of the United Kingdom’s most significant cultural figures, has died at the age of 88. The celebrated artist passed away peacefully at his home on 11 June 2026, just one month before his 89th birthday, according to a statement released by his representatives on Friday.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer joined a wide coalition of political and cultural leaders in paying tribute to Hockney, describing him as one of Britain’s most celebrated artists. A Downing Street spokesman noted that Hockney’s vivid and instantly recognisable work had influenced generations of artists, with the Prime Minister extending his thoughts to the artist’s friends and family.
Hockney’s career spanned seven decades and was characterised by continuous reinvention. He first gained international prominence in the 1960s with his sun-drenched paintings of Los Angeles swimming pools, a series that began after he moved to California in 1964. His later work included a notable shift to digital media, where he utilised the iPad to create portraits and landscapes during the pandemic in 2020, capturing the blooms of spring in Normandy.
The Tate has confirmed it will proceed with two major projects honouring the artist’s legacy. These include a retrospective exhibition at Tate Britain, which will span seven decades of his work, and a multimedia installation in the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern featuring his opera set designs. The gallery noted that Hockney’s 2017 exhibition remains the most visited in its history.
Alex Farquharson, director of Tate Britain, described Hockney as an "immensely important figure" and an "endlessly inventive artist". Farquharson highlighted Hockney’s courage in being "completely and courageously himself" both in his work and in life, noting that the artist taught audiences about the joy of looking and seeing the world with unique clarity.
Beyond his artistic contributions, Hockney is recognised for his role in social change. Dominic James Bilton of the Queer British Art Network described him as a pioneer of queer British art who made societal changes before they were culturally acceptable. Labour peer Lord Cashman added that Hockney donated an artwork worth $250,000 to help fund the early years of the gay rights charity Stonewall.
Hockney is survived by his long-time partner, Jean-Pierre Gonçalves de Lima, his great-nephew and studio assistant Richard, and his brothers Philip and John. Tributes also came from figures such as Dame Tracey Emin, who called him a "proud chain-smoking homosexual" who flew the flag for British art, and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who hailed him as a revolutionary of British art.
