British painter David Hockney, 88, is known for his vibrant and joyful art. He believes art should be a deep pleasure and can change the world. His latest exhibition in London features a massive new work created on an iPad.
A Digital Frieze Inspired by History
Hockney's new exhibition, "A Year in Normandie and Some Other Thoughts About Painting," is at the Serpentine Galleries in London. The main piece is a 295-foot-long frieze called A Year in Normandie (2020-2021).
The frieze takes inspiration from the Bayeux Tapestry, an 11th-century artwork depicting of the Norman conquest of England. © David Hockney / George Darrell
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Start Your News DetoxThis frieze wraps across several walls. It was inspired by the 11th-century Bayeux Tapestry, which shows the Norman conquest of England, and by Chinese scrolls. Hockney created his version by combining over 100 iPad paintings. He used a rubber-tipped brush for these digital artworks.
Hockney painted much of the frieze, A Year in Normandie, at his Normandy studio during the pandemic. © David Hockney
The frieze shows his garden in Normandy throughout a year. Hockney moved to Normandy in 2019. He painted much of ## New Paintings and Enduring Popularity
The exhibition also includes ten new acrylic paintings on canvas. Five of these are portraits of people in Hockney's life, like his partner Jean-Pierre Gonçalves de Lima and his carer Thomas Mupfupi. These portraits all feature a gingham tablecloth.
Thomas Mupfupi Resting on a Pink and White Checkered Tablecloth (2025) depicts Hockney's carer seated at a table. © David Hockney / Prudence Cuming
The other five acrylics are abstract paintings. They are inspired by artists like Mark Rothko and Gerhard Richter and also rest on the same type of tablecloth. This continues Hockney's theme of "painting within a painting."
One of the more than 100 iPad paintings that make up A Year in Normandie © David Hockney
Hockney remains a very popular artist. His work attracts many people, and he continues to innovate as he gets older. His exhibition is open at the Serpentine Galleries until August 23, 2026.
