Only two people attended David Hockney's funeral last week, in accordance with the British artist's final wishes. The private ceremony included his 61-year-old partner, Jean-Pierre Gonçalves de Lima, and his 33-year-old great-nephew, Richard Hockney, a photographer who worked as the artist's assistant and frequently modeled for him. Both are trustees of the David Hockney Foundation, established by the artist in 2008.
Artist's Final Wishes
When Hockney, the pioneering painter of The Splash, died peacefully at his home on 11 June aged 88, tributes poured in from figures including Keir Starmer and King Charles, who praised his "vivid, instantly recognisable" work and "irrepressible charm, talent and constant innovation." His publicist, Erica Bolton, confirmed that Hockney wanted an intimate funeral but that his life and work would be celebrated in a series of memorial services in places he lived, including London and Yorkshire.
Public Memorials Announced
Bolton stated: "We have been overwhelmed by your tributes which have meant so much to us and we wanted to thank you. As we have already received so many inquiries about David Hockney's funeral arrangements and memorials, we would like to clarify that 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. Also in accordance with David's wishes, we are able to announce that the first memorial service to celebrate David's life and work will be held in London in spring 2027, followed at later dates by memorials in Yorkshire, Paris and Los Angeles."
Donation of Artworks
Bolton added that most of Hockney's works in his private collection would be given to foundations and public institutions around the world "in furtherance of his legacy." Hockney refused a knighthood in 1990, explaining in a 2003 interview with Bradford's Telegraph & Argus: "I do not care for a fuss. I don't value prizes of any sort. I value my friends."
Legacy and Future Exhibitions
Hockney is thought to have created about 35,000 artworks throughout his six-decade career, including the Queen Elizabeth II window at Westminster Abbey, where the London memorial is likely to be held. He donated about 8,000 works to his foundation, collectively valued at more than £1bn in 2024. A free exhibition, David Hockney: A Year in Normandie and Some Other Thoughts About Painting, runs until 23 August at the Serpentine in London. Next year, two more exhibitions of Hockney's work will be held at Tate Britain and in the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern.
Market Surge After Death
There was a surge in demand for the artist's work at Art Basel last week, where buyers had one of the first chances to acquire his work in person since his death. Clare McAndrew, author of The Art Basel and US Global Art Market Report, told the Observer there had been a "supply grab" of Hockney's paintings, with demand reportedly up more than 1,200% in the 48 hours after his death.
