David Hockney Painting Winter-Timber in Bridlington, July 2009 © David Hockney; Photo: Jean Pierre Gonçalves de Lima
A 70-Year Journey with a Monumental Retrospective
David Hockney takes center stage in Paris with what promises to be the most comprehensive exhibition ever dedicated to the British artist, a true master of contemporary art and an early adopter of digital technology. From April 9 to September 1, 2025, the Fondation Louis Vuitton will host an extraordinary retrospective featuring over 400 works, including paintings, drawings, videos, immersive installations, and digital pieces, offering visitors an in-depth journey through 70 years of artistic creation.
Curated by Suzanne Pagé, Sir Norman Rosenthal, and François Michaud, the exhibition was developed in close collaboration with Hockney himself, who was directly involved in every stage of the curatorial process, together with his long-time collaborators Jean-Pierre Gonçalves de Lima and Jonathan Wilkinson. Set within the iconic Frank Gehry-designed building in the Bois de Boulogne, this monumental show reflects the ever-evolving, innovative spirit of the artist.
David Hockney, Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) 1972 Acrylic on canvas 213.36 x 304.8 cm © David Hockney - Photo Credit: Art Gallery of New South Wales / Jenni Carter
David Hockney, A Bigger Splash, 1967 Acrylic on canvas 242.5 x 243.9 x 3 cm © David Hockney Tate, U.K.
An Eclectic Artist Bridging Painting, Photography, and Digital Media
From the very beginning of his career, David Hockney has stood out for his eclectic and experimental approach. After studying at the Royal College of Art in London, he continuously reinvented himself—moving from traditional painting to photography, and later becoming one of the first major artists to embrace digital tools like the iPad and iPhone to create original artworks.
In the 1960s, Hockney’s stay in California marked a major turning point. During this time, he produced some of his most iconic pieces, such as A Bigger Splash (1967) and Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) (1972), capturing the light, lifestyle, and aesthetic of Los Angeles in his distinctive style. These works open the Paris exhibition, retracing the early stages of his career from Bradford to London, and finally to the sun-drenched landscapes of the American West Coast.
Beyond Painting: Landscapes and Visual Experimentation
The exhibition is not just a tribute to Hockney’s past—it places strong emphasis on the last 25 years, a period marked by intense exploration and visual experimentation. During this time, Hockney worked extensively in the Yorkshire countryside, in London, and in Normandy, producing lush landscapes and intricate studies of light and nature through the seasons.
In many of these pieces, traditional painting is enriched by digital technology, especially in works created on iPad, like the series 220 for 2020, a vibrant reflection on the passage of the seasons in Normandy. This fusion of art and digital tools is a hallmark of Hockney’s recent production, showcasing his unique ability to evolve while remaining deeply connected to the core elements of visual art.
Standout works in this section include Bigger Trees near Warter (2007) and May Blossom on the Roman Road (2009), both emblematic of Hockney’s ongoing fascination with visual perception, light shifts, and multi-perspective composition. His bold use of color and line evokes echoes of Van Gogh and medieval tapestries, reinterpreted through a modern lens.
Exhibition David Hockney 25 at Louis Vuitton Fondation of Paris
Art as Total Experience: The Galleria 10 and the Ballroom-Studio
One of the exhibition’s most immersive moments awaits visitors in Galleria 10, the largest space within the Fondation Louis Vuitton. Here, an unprecedented sound and visual installation—created in collaboration with 59 Studio—will offer a multisensory experience celebrating Hockney’s interest in performing arts, particularly music and dance.
Additionally, one gallery will recreate Hockney’s personal studio, transformed into a lively ballroom for the occasion. This interactive space will showcase his opera set designs from the 1970s, along with sketches and musical elements that reflect his deep appreciation for performance and interdisciplinary art.
Portraits, Self-Portraits, and the Digital Identity
A major section of the show will be devoted to portraits, a recurring theme in Hockney’s work. Around 60 pieces—ranging from traditional canvas paintings to digitally framed iPad portraits—will feature friends, collaborators, and self-portraits, highlighting how the artist uses both traditional and digital media to explore human expression and identity.
Photography plays a key role in this process. For Hockney, photography has never been just documentation—it’s a tool for analyzing time and perspective. He experimented with photo collages and visual fragmentation, creating complex compositions that challenged linear perspective and paved the way for his later digital works.
David Hockney, Self Portrait, 10th December 2021
Homage and Influence: A Dialogue with the Masters of Art History
Another captivating aspect of the exhibition is the ongoing dialogue with art history. The show includes a range of reproduced and reinterpreted works that reflect Hockney’s deep connection to the past—from Fra Angelico and Cézanne to the Flemish masters, Van Gogh, Picasso, and beyond.
These references are not mere tributes, but form the foundation of Hockney’s reinterpretation of classic themes in a contemporary context. In recent works such as After Munch: Less is Known than People Think and After Blake: Less is Known than People Think, he reimagines the visions of Edvard Munch and William Blake, blending historical, astronomical, and spiritual influences into poetic, enigmatic compositions.
Exhibition David Hockney 25 at Louis Vuitton Fondation of Paris
A Celebration of Creativity Across Art and Technology
With this unprecedented retrospective, David Hockney reaffirms his position as one of the most innovative and influential artists of our time. His ability to move fluidly between painting, photography, and digital art has made him a pioneer, offering new perspectives on the way we see, feel, and experience visual culture.
The exhibition at Fondation Louis Vuitton is not only a celebration of Hockney’s remarkable career—it is a broader reflection on the future of contemporary art, the evolving role of digital tools in creative processes, and the ways in which technology can deepen, rather than dilute, the essence of artistic expression.