One of the world’s largest collections of graphics by David Hockney is currently on display at Halcyon at 148 New Bond Street. Spanning six decades of Hockney’s career, the works date from 1961 to 2018, and include his iconic pool images, self-portraits, portraits of friends, still lifes and landscapes. As an artist, Hockney has always embraced the latest technological innovations. In the 1980s he harnessed photocopy machines as part of his practice and, more recently, the iPad, which he uses to capture the world as he sees it – through the technicolour guise of the digital age. Visitors will discover various iPad drawings, providing a rich insight into his unique exploration of this new medium.
The exhibition, called Living in Colour, also provides a window into Hockney’s personal life: views of his studios, household objects, portraits of friends, family and his beloved dachshunds – these works document his life and travels from Yorkshire to California. Two figures Hockney has captured particularly frequently are Gregory Evans, his former lover and Celia Birtwell, a celebrated textile designer and lifelong friend. The exhibition features two exceptional portraits of these individuals. These large-scale, vibrant, idiosyncratic portraits are from the Moving Focus series (1984–1987). 
Visitors will discover works from the Moving Focus series, which is perhaps his most ambitious and experimental output of prints, consisting of portraits, landscapes, interiors, and still lifes. Through this body of work, the artist explored unconventional methods of articulating space, as if the subject is captured from multiple viewpoints, rendering his sitters with an electric feeling of dynamism. These works are notable as a demonstration of his masterful use of colour and as a pure expression of Pablo Picasso’s impact on his work. Hockney acknowledges this impact in two pieces that he created in 1973, which hang in the exhibition. In The Student, Homage to Picasso and Artist and Model, the artist represents himself confronting his idol, the pioneer of cubism.
Another major influence in Hockney’s career is Vincent van Gogh, whom he acknowledges throughout his oeuvre, particularly in Van Gogh Chair (1998). This piece was created in direct homage to the post-impressionist who painted the same subject exactly 100 years earlier. Van Gogh’s Chair with Pipe (1888) is currently on display at the National Gallery in London. Hockney’s pools are some of the most memorable images of the 20th century – visitors will find a number on display – with iridescent pools, complete with sharp geometry, that illicit an irresistible temptation to dive in. Created whilst living in LA, these works have come to symbolise the exuberance and sense of freedom associated with the city.
Paul Green, President and founder of Halcyon said: “It is a privilege to put on an exhibition dedicated to one of the most important British artists of the 20th Century – someone who made his mark in the 60s and is still just as relevant today. This is a unique opportunity to tell his story and make his work accessible to a wide audience.”
Kate Brown, Creative Director at Halcyon explained: “It has been incredible to work with such a comprehensive collection of Hockney’s work. His unique approach to printmaking and joyful spirit resonates through this exhibition, and I am delighted to be able to share this at our gallery at 148 New Bond Street.”
David Hockney: Living in Colour is open free to the public until the end of the year at Halcyon’s flagship space at 148 New Bond Street and at Harrods
