David Hockney honors his devoted carers and close inner circle with moving new portrait paintings set for display at Serpentine North Gallery in London

David Hockney has always been known for bold colour, fresh perspectives, and an ability to make ordinary life feel extraordinary.

Now, in his latest body of work, the celebrated artist is doing something especially personal.

Instead of turning his gaze toward sweeping landscapes or famous figures, he is focusing on the people who quietly shape his everyday world.

His newest paintings offer a tribute to those closest to him, including his carers and even the man responsible for making his glasses.

Portraits Rooted in Gratitude

At 88, Hockney is using portraiture as a way of saying thank you.

His latest series includes images of individuals who are part of his daily routine and support system.

Among them are Thomas Mupfupi, one of his full-time carers, and Jack Ransome, the specialist who makes the glasses through which Hockney views the world.

The choice of subjects feels intimate and deeply human, reducing the distance between artist and sitter and reminding viewers that greatness often depends on the presence of others behind the scenes.

A Major London Exhibition on the Horizon

These new works will be unveiled at the Serpentine North Gallery in Hyde Park, London.

The exhibition is scheduled to run from March 12 until August 23, giving visitors months to experience this quieter, more reflective chapter of Hockney’s career.

The show is expected to draw strong attention, not only because of his legendary reputation, but because of the emotional honesty that seems to run through these paintings.

Painting Through Health Challenges

In recent years, Hockney has faced ongoing health difficulties, including a minor stroke in 2013.

While he has chosen not to publicly detail the full extent of his current condition, it is clear that age and illness have become part of the background of his later life.

Still, he continues to paint with determination.

For Hockney, art is not simply a career but a form of resistance against despair.

He has spoken about his belief that painting should bring deep pleasure, even in a world filled with suffering, and that creativity can change how people feel and see.

What Viewers Will Experience in This Collection

The exhibition will bring together a small but carefully curated selection of still lifes and portraits, alongside a striking printed mural inspired by Hockney’s garden in Normandy.

Much of this recent work reflects his ongoing fascination with time, nature, and the quiet beauty of familiar surroundings.

A particularly notable element is a panoramic frieze created from more than 100 iPad paintings, showing how Hockney continues to explore digital tools even at this stage in his life.

A Career That Has Spanned Generations

Hockney’s artistic journey stretches across more than sixty years.

Born in Bradford, he rose through the British art scene after graduating from the Royal College of Art in London in 1962.

He later moved to Los Angeles in the 1960s, where his sunlit pool paintings became some of the most recognisable images of modern art.

Although he returned to Britain in 2003, his life has remained shaped by movement between countries, studios, and creative reinvention.

Personal Tragedy and Continued Reinvention

Hockney’s later years have also included moments of profound loss.

In 2013, his studio assistant Dominic Elliot died in tragic circumstances at the artist’s Yorkshire home, an event that deeply affected him and led him back to Los Angeles for a period.

Despite such heartbreak, Hockney has continued producing work that feels alive, curious, and forward-looking.

Record-Breaking Recognition

Even as his work becomes more personal, Hockney’s standing in the art world remains monumental.

His 1972 painting Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) made history when it sold for over $90 million in 2018, becoming the most expensive artwork ever auctioned by a living artist at the time.

That same year, he purchased his Normandy home, which has since become a source of inspiration for much of his recent output.

Serpentine Leaders Reflect on His Vision

Hans Ulrich Obrist, Serpentine’s artistic director, has praised Hockney’s ability to keep expanding the language of painting.

He suggests that these portraits do more than depict their sitters, capturing instead the very act of seeing and the passage of time.

Bettina Korek, the gallery’s chief executive, has added that Hockney’s work encourages people to slow down, look closely, and reconnect with the world around them.

What’s Next?

As the exhibition opening approaches, anticipation will build around how audiences respond to this tender tribute.

For many, these portraits may stand out as some of Hockney’s most emotionally resonant works, not because they aim for spectacle, but because they highlight care, closeness, and everyday presence.

This show may ultimately be remembered as a late-career statement of gratitude from an artist still finding new ways to see.

Summary

David Hockney’s latest paintings pay tribute to the carers, family members, and close companions who shape his daily life, including the man who makes his glasses.

Set to be exhibited at the Serpentine North Gallery from March through August, the collection includes portraits, still lifes, and a panoramic iPad frieze inspired by his Normandy garden.

Despite health struggles and personal loss, Hockney continues to create with purpose, offering viewers an intimate reflection on time, connection, and the people who quietly support an extraordinary life.