David Hockney by David Hockney
Will be published approx. on 22. October 2026
Book
Hardback
312 pages
978-0-500-03147-6 (ISBN)
Description
A special, fiftieth-anniversary edition of David Hockney's witty, candid and revealing account of his life and work.
David Hockney by David Hockney was first published in 1976 and grew out of twenty-five hours of recorded conversation with the artist. A carefully crafted, collaborative memoir, this special full-colour edition marks the fiftieth anniversary of the book's first publication.
Hockney recounts his early years in Bradford, where he was born, grew up and first went to art school; his years at the Royal College of Art in London, during which he had his breakthrough; his sojourn in California, which inspired some of his best-known paintings, drawings and prints; and his subsequent phase in Paris, where an exhibition at the Louvre established him as a 'continental master'.
The book's fascination lies not only in the fact that the text is entirely Hockney's own - so that his life-story is given full clarity - but also that it reproduces his paintings, graphic work and drawings. The story, presented more or less chronologically, is informative and humorous, full of descriptions of his work, anecdotes about himself, other artists and friends, his thoughts about art and his ambiguous relationship with other styles. Above all, it is the story of an artist who is ceaselessly striving to improve his craft and to portray the world around him imaginatively.
David Hockney by David Hockney was first published in 1976 and grew out of twenty-five hours of recorded conversation with the artist. A carefully crafted, collaborative memoir, this special full-colour edition marks the fiftieth anniversary of the book's first publication.
Hockney recounts his early years in Bradford, where he was born, grew up and first went to art school; his years at the Royal College of Art in London, during which he had his breakthrough; his sojourn in California, which inspired some of his best-known paintings, drawings and prints; and his subsequent phase in Paris, where an exhibition at the Louvre established him as a 'continental master'.
The book's fascination lies not only in the fact that the text is entirely Hockney's own - so that his life-story is given full clarity - but also that it reproduces his paintings, graphic work and drawings. The story, presented more or less chronologically, is informative and humorous, full of descriptions of his work, anecdotes about himself, other artists and friends, his thoughts about art and his ambiguous relationship with other styles. Above all, it is the story of an artist who is ceaselessly striving to improve his craft and to portray the world around him imaginatively.
Reviews / Votes
'The most remarkable autobiographical work any artist, scientist or man of letters of his generation has written' - Times Literary Supplement 'Hockney tells us in a wonderfully straightforward way about what triggered off most of the paintings and many of the graphics reproduced in this book, and it's so brilliant and clear an account of how his art becomes inextricably involved with life that it amounts to a genuine breakthrough in communication' - New StatesmanMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Illustrations
434 Illustrations, color
Dimensions
Height: 264 mm
Width: 210 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-500-03147-6 (9780500031476)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
David Hockney is one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. He has produced work in almost every medium - painting, drawing, stage design, photography and printmaking - and has stretched the boundaries of them all. He continues to create and exhibit art and to inspire enormous affection and admiration worldwide, in recognition of which he was awarded the Legion d'honneur by France in January 2026.