Remembering David Hockney: The Exhibition That Stayed With Me

The art world recently lost one of its greatest visionaries with the passing of David Hockney at the age of 88. For more than six decades, Hockney challenged the way we see the world through painting, photography and digital media, constantly reinventing himself while remaining unmistakably true to his own artistic voice.

His legacy is extraordinary.

From the iconic swimming pools of Los Angeles to intimate portraits of friends and family, from vast Yorkshire landscapes to groundbreaking iPad drawings, Hockney never stopped exploring. He possessed a rare ability to find beauty in everyday life and remind us that the act of looking is, in itself, an act of creativity. Throughout his career he embraced new technologies and new ways of seeing, proving that artistic curiosity has no age limit.

As news of his passing spread around the world, I found myself reflecting on a personal memory that has stayed with me for many years.

Back in 2018, while living in Venice Beach, Los Angeles, I visited David Hockney's exhibition, 82 Portraits and 1 Still-life, at LACMA.

At the time, I wasn't yet the painter I am today.

I was an Australian living overseas, building a creative life in Los Angeles and navigating my own journey as an artist. Looking back, I can see that the exhibition affected me far more deeply than I realised at the time.

The paintings were deceptively simple.

Each portrait followed a similar format. A sitter seated in a chair against a vibrant background. The compositions were consistent, yet every painting felt completely individual. Hockney had achieved something remarkable. Through colour, observation and subtle shifts in posture and expression, he revealed the personality of each subject.

The exhibition demonstrated that portraiture wasn't simply about likeness.

It was about presence.

It was about truly seeing another person.

One painting in particular stopped me in my tracks.

It was Hockney's portrait of Australian comedian Barry Humphries.

Standing there in Los Angeles, thousands of kilometres from home, I experienced an unexpected wave of emotion. There was something uniquely comforting about seeing a fellow Australian represented in the work of one of the world's most celebrated artists.

It made me homesick.

It made me proud.

And strangely, it made the distance between Australia and California feel smaller.

As Australians living overseas often discover, moments of connection to home can arrive when we least expect them. In a gallery filled with international figures, it was Barry Humphries who created that connection for me.

Looking back now, I realise that exhibition planted a seed.

At the time I was still deeply connected to photography, but I found myself increasingly drawn to painting. Hockney's portraits revealed how much could be communicated through colour, composition and observation. They demonstrated that painting could capture not only what a person looks like, but also something of who they are.

What I admire most about Hockney is that he never allowed himself to become trapped by his own success.

Many artists spend a lifetime trying to develop a signature style. Hockney certainly achieved that, yet he never stopped evolving. He moved between painting, photography, printmaking and digital drawing. He embraced technology long before many artists considered it a serious artistic tool. His career was built not only on talent, but on curiosity.

As a contemporary artist, that lesson resonates strongly with me.

The most exciting creative journeys are rarely straight lines.

Photography led me to painting.

Travel shaped my perspective.

Experiences collected across different countries and different stages of life continue to find their way into my work today.

Perhaps that is why Hockney's work continues to inspire so many artists. He reminds us that creativity is not about standing still. It is about remaining curious. It is about continuing to look closely at the world around us.

Most importantly, it is about finding beauty in places others might overlook.

Today, as I look back through my photographs from that visit to LACMA, I am grateful that I had the opportunity to experience Hockney's work in person.

What I remember most is not a particular technique or composition.

I remember how the paintings made me feel.

Inspired.

Connected.

Curious.

And perhaps, for the first time, genuinely interested in what painting might become in my own life.

Thank you, David Hockney.

Your work continues to remind us all to keep looking.

— VanDahl

Photographs accompanying this article were taken during my visit to David Hockney's "82 Portraits and 1 Still-life" exhibition at LACMA in Los Angeles in 2018.