David Hockney died peacefully at his London home on June 11 or 12, 2026, at the age of 88 [1, 2, 3, 4]. The renowned British artist's funeral was held privately in the week following his death, attended only by his partner Jean-Pierre Gonçalves de Lima and his great-nephew Richard Hockney, in accordance with Hockney's explicit wishes for a low-key ceremony [1, 2, 3, 4]. His publicist Erica Bolton said, "It was David’s clear wish that his funeral should be attended only by his partner, JP, and his great-nephew Richard, and that their privacy would be respected. The funeral has already taken place." [2]

Richard Hockney, a photographer and former assistant to the artist, played a key role in the private service [2]. King Charles III called Hockney "a giant of the world of art and painting, a Yorkshireman through and through, and a dear friend and inspiration to so many," while Prime Minister Keir Starmer referred to him as "one of Britain's most celebrated artists" [1]. Fellow artist Dame Tracey Emin described him as "a great artist and a wonderful man, who with the power of art changed the perception of Britishness. A proud chain-smoking homosexual, who flew the flag higher than any other British artist" [1].

Hockney was a leading figure of the pop art movement from the 1960s, with a career spanning six to seven decades [1, 2, 3, 4]. He founded The David Hockney Foundation in 2008, which now holds over 8,000 works by the artist [2, 3, 4]. In 2024, those works were valued at more than £1 billion [2]. His paintings set an auction record for a living artist with a sale nearing £70 million in 2018 [1].

Most of Hockney's artworks will be donated to foundations and public institutions worldwide to preserve his legacy [1, 2, 3, 4]. Meanwhile, an exhibition of his work is ongoing at the Serpentine Galleries in London through August 23, 2026 [1, 2].

Memorial services are planned for spring 2027, starting in London and followed later by events in Yorkshire, Paris, and Los Angeles [1, 2, 3, 4]. These public gatherings will allow admirers to pay tribute beyond the private funeral.

The next major event will be the first memorial service in London in spring 2027, continuing the celebration of David Hockney’s life and art across multiple cities.