Hockney studied at Bradford School of Art and the Royal College of Art. He first gained attention and national fame even before he graduated from the Royal College in 1962. During his time at the RCA Hockney won a gold medal and the Guinness award for Etching in 1961. He was awarded a prize in the junior section of the John Moores Liverpool Exhibition in 1961 and in the Graphics Section of the Paris Biennale in 1963. Exhibited as a pop artist with a one-man show at the Kasmin Gallery in 1963. He was given a retrospective exhibition of Paintings, Prints and Drawings 1960-70 at the Whitechapel Gallery in 1970. Hockney has been perpetually in the limelight and has gained a reputation for his success in drawings, witty etchings, double portraits and inventive photo collages. A major retrospective covering all aspects of his work was held at Tate Britain in 2017.
David Hockney, OM CH RA (b. 1937), Little Audrey, 2001
pencil on lined paper
8½ x 11 ½ in (29.7 x 21 cm)
Signed, titled, dedicated For Ann and dated 29 June 2001
Collections: Acquired directly from the artist by Ann and David Graves
This enchanting drawing comes from the estate of David and Ann Graves. Ann Upton, as she formerly was, met Hockney in 1960 and frequently sat for him. David was a sculptor and paper restorer who came into Hockney’s orbit in the early 70’s. He was also one of Hockney’s favourite sitters and subsequently became his assistant moving with Hockney to Los Angeles at the end of the decade.
Ann and David married in Hawaii in 1983, with Hockney acting as wedding photographer. The artist made a well known print celebrating the event.