David Hockney Portraits at the National Portrait Gallery

Written by Albert Birchfield Tuesday, 07 December 2010 22:48

LONDON - David Hockney Portraits is the most comprehensive survey of Hockney's portraits ever created.  Following hugely successful showings in Boston and Los Angeles, this exceptional exhibition opens at the National Portrait Gallery on October 12 through 21 January, 2007. 

Offering the opportunity to see many works together for the first time, David Hockney Portraits is a fascinating visual diary of the life, love and friendship of one of the greatest and most admired British artists of his generation.

The portraits provide insights into the artist's intense observations of the people he has charted over many years.  These include his parents, fabric designer Celia Birtwell, art dealer John Kasmin and some of the leading cultural figures of the twentieth century such as Andy Warhol, Man Ray and W H Auden.

Hockney’s most personal and powerful works are included in the exhibition, starting with the artist’s very early self portraits and studies of his father created during his student years at Bradford School of Art.  Also brought together are the celebrated, almost life-size double portraits of Henry Geldzahler and Christopher Scott (1969), American Collectors (Mr and Mrs Weisman) (1968) My Parents (1977) and the much-loved Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy (1970–71) which returns to the National Portrait Gallery, where it was first exhibited in 1971.

Showcasing major examples of his work from his time in Britain and California - including Peter Getting out of Nick’s Pool (1966) and Divine (1979) - David Hockney Portraits concludes with the artist's new work, marking his return to large-scale painted portraits.  As with his earlier paintings, Hockney reconsiders the conversation piece and the heroic, single-standing figure, but this time he paints them directly from life.

The exhibition is remarkable in celebrating David Hockney’s many innovations in the art of portraiture from his Cubist-influenced photographic collages of the 1980s to his recent camera lucida drawings.

Sandy Nairne, Director of the National Portrait Gallery, London, says: ‘David Hockney’s portraits offer the best view of his work and life – it is a great privilege to be able to bring so many together in London.’

Christopher Bailey, Creative Director of Burberry, says: ‘Given the high esteem in which we at Burberry hold David Hockney and his work, we consider it a rare privilege to have the opportunity to sponsor the exhibition.  Adding to our enthusiasm is the prospect of again collaborating with our friends and neighbors at the National Portrait Gallery during this, our shared 150th anniversary year.  David Hockney is a legend and his body of work legendary.  He’s an artist of unequalled talent and international renown: he’s an icon, an iconoclast, the best of British, an individual like no other.’

The exhibition is organized by the National Portrait Gallery, London and Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Visit The National Portrait Gallery Website: www.npg.org.uk

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