David Hockney, widely regarded as one of the most influential British artists of the 20th century, died peacefully on June 11 at his home in Marylebone, London, at the age of 88. Known for his vibrant depictions of Californian swimming pools, Yorkshire landscapes, and pioneering use of digital media, Hockney remained creatively active until the end of his life.

His funeral was held privately last week, attended only by his long-term partner and household assistant, Jean-Pierre Gonçalves de Lima, and his great-nephew Richard Hockney, a photographer and frequent model for the artist. The ceremony reflected Hockney’s wishes for an intimate service, as he was not religious and had declined a knighthood in 1990, reportedly to avoid public fuss. Plans are underway for a series of memorial services next year in London, Yorkshire, Paris, and Los Angeles—locations significant to his life and career—with the first likely to be at Westminster Abbey, where he designed The Queen’s Window in 2018.

The artist’s death has been met with widespread acclaim from the cultural world, with figures such as King Charles III praising Hockney as a "true original," and fellow artists recognizing his impact on British art and cultural identity. Hockney produced an estimated 35,000 artworks throughout his life, continuously working even after a stroke in 2012. These works, along with those held by the David Hockney Foundation, stand to form a lasting legacy.

Despite the public tributes, some longtime friends have expressed distress and disappointment over reports that Hockney was isolated in his final weeks. According to acquaintances, several close friends, including fashion designer and muse Celia Birtwell, were not permitted to visit the artist as he lay bedridden following strokes. These friends have suggested that Gonçalves de Lima limited access to Hockney during this time, leading to feelings that the artist was alienated from his wider circle in his final days. A spokesperson for Hockney has not publicly addressed these claims.

Another area of dispute concerns Hockney’s private art collection. Sources familiar with the artist have described an extensive, highly valuable collection that includes works by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Andy Warhol, stored in a climate-controlled facility in Los Angeles and reportedly worth upward of £100 million. However, Hockney’s longtime spokesman Erica Bolton has denied that the artist owned works by other painters or kept them in his properties across the UK, France, and the US, adding an element of uncertainty to the collection’s existence.

Hockney’s estate, estimated to be worth several hundred million pounds, encompasses multiple properties in London, California, Yorkshire, and Normandy, France. The primary custodian of his artistic legacy is the David Hockney Foundation, valued at around $225 million as of 2024, with Gonçalves de Lima and Richard Hockney serving as trustees. The foundation intends to donate much of Hockney’s personal and professional art holdings to public institutions, including Tate galleries in the UK and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, as part of his wish to give back to the communities that shaped his career.

Hockney’s legacy lives on, both through his vast body of work and the ongoing public remembrances planned for the coming year, reflecting his impact on the art world and his profound connections to several cultural centers worldwide.