The National Portrait Gallery is set to welcome back the acclaimed exhibition, 'David Hockney: Drawing from Life,' a five-star showcase that had a brief 20-day run before the Gallery's closure in March 2020 due to the impact of Covid. This exhibition delves into the artist's prolific six-decade career, focusing on his intimate portraits of five individuals: his mother, Celia Birtwell, Gregory Evans, Maurice Payne, and Hockney himself.

With a deep familiarity with his subjects, Hockney employs a diverse array of mediums and styles, ranging from pencil, pen and ink, and crayon to photographic collage and the iPad. Notably, the 2023 exhibition will unveil over thirty new portraits, painted from life, capturing friends and visitors at the artist's Normandy studio between 2021 and 2022. This promises to be a compelling addition to Hockney's artistic legacy.

David Hockney's artistic journey is a perpetual dialogue with the history of art, drawing both inspiration and insight from its rich tapestry. His engagement with the art of the past goes beyond mere influence; it serves as a wellspring for subjects, styles, solutions, and techniques. From his early days, where he subverted Hogarth's moralizing narrative in "A Rake's Progress" (1961–3), to his adoption of the reed pen inspired by Vincent van Gogh, Hockney's conversations with the past have been dynamic and enduring.

This discussion will delve into the profound impact that historical artists, notably Rembrandt, Ingres, and Picasso, have had on shaping the narrative of Hockney's graphic portraits. By exploring these connections, we gain insight into the layers of inspiration that enrich and define Hockney's remarkable body of work.

2 November 2023 - 21 January 2024

National Portrait Gallery

Floor 0

£21.00 / £23.50

Book now

£5 tickets for all visitors aged 25 and under are available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with further concessions available

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