David Hockney dead: Mick Jagger leads tributes to beloved British artist
David Hockney, the pioneering British artist, has died aged 88.
The news was confirmed by his publicist on June 12th, with tributes pouring in from across the cultural world for the artist, whose work was pivotal to both the 20th and 21st centuries.
A statement was released that said: “The celebrated British artist David Hockney, one of the most important figures in contemporary art in both the 20th and 21st centuries, passed away peacefully at home on 11 June 2026, one month short of his 89th birthday.”
Subsequently, the photographer Simon Knott paid tribute on X by writing: “Sorry to hear of the death of the artist David Hockney. His self-portrait, aged 17 in 1954, hangs in the David Hockney Gallery at Cartwright Hall, Bradford, one of Yorkshire’s less-well known galleries, but a gem.”
Meanwhile, Mick Jagger wrote on X, “Remembering David Hockney, he was kind and always had a sparkle in his eye. He never stopped experimenting and is one of the finest painters of our generation.”
In addition, the author Tony Parsons also wrote on the platform: “Rest well, David Hockney, and thank you.”
A perhaps more surprising tribute came from the illusionist Uri Geller, who also wrote on X: “My dear friends, David Hockney was a defining English artist and draftsman whose eight-decade career pioneered the 1960s Pop Art movement.
“Famous for his sun-drenched paintings of Los Angeles swimming pools, bold use of color, and innovative experiments with photography and of the most widely recognized figures in modern art and was also interested in the paranormal , he loved my spoonbending. RIP,” he added, while sharing a photo of the pair.
Piers Morgan also paid tribute, while revealing Hockney was a neighbour of his. He said: “RIP David Hockney, 88. One of Britain’s greatest ever artists, a Yorkshireman to his bootstraps, my neighbour in Kensington (often saw him on local manoeuvres, albeit in a wheelchair more recently) and a wonderful character. Loved his quote: ‘Laugh a lot, it clears the lungs.’”
Furthermore, the art historian Richard Morris wrote on X: “Shocked to hear David Hockney has died. His huge achievement was to make serious painting look effortless. He carried forward one of the most sustained investigations into vision, space and representation by any post-war artist. British art has lost a giant,” while sharing one of his paintings, the acclaimed My Parents from 1977.
Hockney has also gained tributes from the political world, with UK government Minister for Trade and Labour MP Chris Bryant saying on X: “Very sad to see that David Hockney has died. The recent exhibition in Paris was one of the most memorable I’ve seen in many years. So innovative and inspiring. The way he renders shimmering water or night time scenes is amazing. And his line in portraits is perfect.”
Meanwhile, broadcaster and Bradfordian native Anita Rani wrote on Instagram, “I used to go and see David Hockney’s works at Saltsmill when I was little. An incredible privilege (one I completely took for granted at the time) to have access to art like that from such a young age. He was magic and opened my eyes to all the possibilities and potential that Bradford and its people hold. What a sad day it is. Bradford lad dun good.”
