British painter, draughtsman, printmaker, stage designer and photographer David Hockney, in Los Angeles, circa 1978.
Photo: Michael Childers/Corbis via Getty Images
15 Terrific Instagrams of Iconic Artist David Hockney
As the visionary British painter turns 81, the Internet lights up in celebration
As we celebrate David Hockney’s 81st birthday, it is hard to ignore that in the age of technology and social media, the iconic British artist has managed to continue to be a greatly admired artist.
Born July 9, 1937 in Bradford, U.K., Hockney became an artistic powerhouse in the 20th century, not only as a painter but also as a designer, photographer, and contributor to the Pop art movement in the 1960s. Instead of fading into history, Hockney and his art have managed to stay relevant.
In the last year alone, the Tate Britain, the Centre Pompidou, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art have all staged solo exhibitions of Hockney’s work. The shows attracted thousands—especially millennials—in part due to his Instagram-ready color palette, his multi-perspective Polaroids, and boundary-pushing themes like same-sex relations.
Recommended: Who is the Muse in David Hockney’s Paintings?
Hockney has also done an admirable job at embracing the technological world with his iPad drawings that were included in his 2011 exhibit at San Francisco’s de Young Museum. Hockney was criticized for using an app to draw, with some claiming the works didn’t qualify as art. But when technology is use in every facet of our lives, Hockney was simply adapting.
Below is a selection of posts from Instagram celebrating the artist, and his signature style.
Cover: British painter, draughtsman, printmaker, stage designer and photographer David Hockney, in Los Angeles, circa 1978.
Photo: Michael Childers/Corbis via Getty Images
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