David Hockney Unveils Latest Portrait: A Painting Of Harry Styles
Left: David Hockney’s Self Portrait, 22nd November 2021, one of the paintings set to be on show at the exhibition. Composite 268624918 © Rob Lumen Captum and 201788712 © Wirestock | Dreamstime.com
One of the most expensive living artists has paid tribute to one of the biggest artists in the music industry. Unveiled for the first time, a David Hockney of Harry Styles will soon go on display at a massive exhibition filled with works by the British painter.
In May 2022, Styles visited Hockney’s studio in Normandy, France, where he sat down to be painted by the iconic artist.
It’s no secret that Hockney often swaps out his paintbrush for his iPad to create his masterpieces. This time, however, he opted to capture the As It Was singer and former One Direction member by hand, with traditional acrylics on canvas.
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Hockney painted Styles as he was that day, with his bold red and yellow striped cardigan, blue flared jeans, pearl necklace, and rings.
While seated on a rattan armchair, the musician appeared almost regal in his portrait, his posture set upright, with one hand on an armrest.
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The lovely piece that looks both contemporary and timeless—a sign of the times, as Styles might say—will be featured at the David Hockney: Drawing from Life spectacle held by the National Portrait Gallery in London on November 2.
The exhibition is an expansion of a short-lived showcase that opened just weeks before the lockdown in 2020. With the inclusion of newer artworks from 2021 and 2022, it will now house about 160 David Hockney pieces loaned by public and private collections worldwide.
Honored by the artistic homage, Styles tells Vogue that it has been a “complete privilege” to be painted by Hockney, whom he notes has been “reinventing” how people perceive the world.
Joining Styles’ image are about 30 newer portraits of Hockney’s close circle, including his friend Celia Birtwell, his mother Laura Hockney, his curator and former partner Gregory Evans, and his master printer Maurice Payne.
David Hockney: Drawing from Life will run through January 21, 2024.
[via Artnet News, Sky News, National Portrait Gallery, images via various sources]
