Artists - Part 90

David Hockney

Renowned English painter David Hockney (1937-2026) passed away a week ago.  He is considered one of the most influential British artists of the 20th and 21st centuries

He moved to Los Angeles in 1964.  Above, Hockney on the beach at Santa Monica in 1964.

Hockney came out as gay when he was 23 years old, studying at the Royal College of Art in London.  At the time, gay sex was still illegal in Britain.

Above, Man in Shower in Beverly Hills, 1964.  Of course, not all of his art featured male nudes, but a fair amount of it did, and that's what we'll look at.

He seemed fascinated by the swimming pools in California.  Above, California, 1965.

Two Boys in a Pool, Hollywood, 1965.

Peter Getting Out of Nick's Pool, 1966.

His paintings seemed to favor rear views, but is drawings were more explicit.  Above, In An Old Book, 1966, one of 12 drawings illustrating Fourteen Poems by C.P. Cafavy.

This drawing is not as explicit, but it's more gay.  It's called In the Beginning, 1966.

And this is An Erotic Etching, 1975.

Also from 1975 is Gregory Leaning Nude.

We end with this photo of Hockney himself nude.  It's called Portrait of David Hockney at His Studio by R.B. Kitaj, 1976.  I got this from the Virtual Muscle Men blog.  Thanks, Jerry!

Hockney kept creating until his death last week at age 88.