David Hockney is still going strong at 88. With a career spanning over 60 years that has placed him at the pinnacle of contemporary art, he continues to paint, experiment, innovate, and exhibit.
This show, the first at Annely Juda’s sleek, central London gallery—his representative since the 1990s—is filled with paintings so fresh you can almost sense the wet paint. The opening room features intensely bright still lifes of chairs, tables, fruit, and flowers. While the subject matter may seem traditional, nothing Hockney touches is ever dull.
His Van Gogh-inspired wicker chairs glow in neon yellow and luminous purple; his floors clash with red, yellow, and orange shapes; his fruit appears simple, primary-colored, and childlike. Throughout, he plays with “reverse perspective,” aiming to capture how we truly see the world rather than the fixed view of photos or conventional paintings. The result is a wobbly, twisted effect—chair legs splay, tablecloths warp. It may not feel more “real” than traditional perspective, but the dizzying visual unease it creates is engaging. Some compositions include photos of gardens, offering glimpses of a rather plain English reality that make the rest of the artwork seem even brighter and more vibrant.
What’s hard to miss is how much shakier his brushstrokes have become. Classic Hockney was confident and controlled, but these new works are surprisingly unsteady. The brush marks quiver, lines wander, and patches of white underpainting show through. They border on messy, yet remain unmistakably his. It’s a moving experience—watching one of the modern era’s great artists age before our eyes. Compared to his early works shown earlier this year, it almost feels like the bookends of a career, a thought that’s hard to confront.
The portraits, however, are where the exhibition struggles most. Over time, Hockney’s approach to skin tones has leaned toward pointillism, resulting in figures that look covered in sores. The subjects appear blotchy, red-faced, and pockmarked, splashed with pink and red (except for John Kasmin, who seems to have taken on a moldy, gangrenous hue). They resemble fresh corpses more than living, vibrant beings. A triple portrait of a man in a mirror is an interesting concept, but he just looks like someone awkwardly waiting outside changing rooms. Only the self-portrait of Hockney painting from a wheelchair truly succeeds—it’s vulnerable yet humorously self-aware.
Upstairs, Hockney continues his iPad experiments with a series of moon “paintings”—dark, moody scenes with glowing orbs above blackened landscapes. They feel quiet, austere, and perhaps a little sad. I won’t entertain complaints about his digital work; critics moan about the lack of texture, brushstrokes, and humanity, but I find it impressive—an artist mastering new technology and proving that, regardless of medium, his distinctive style shines through.
But do we really need another Hockney exhibition? London has hosted over ten shows of his work in the last eight or nine years alone, not to mention the massive retrospective at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris earlier this year. And this isn’t even the end—the Serpentine Gallery is planning a major exhibition soon.By 2026, I might feel that even as a Hockney admirer, there could be too much of a good thing. Still, we should appreciate him while he’s here. With these new pieces—full of quirks, humor, vibrant light, and color—he shows he’s still creating and hasn’t lost his touch after all this time. Catch the exhibition at Annely Juda Fine Art in London from November 7th to February 28th.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of helpful and concise FAQs about the exhibition David Hockney A Review of His Latest Paintings Unseen in Paris Still Innovating Still Captivating
General Beginner Questions
1 Who is David Hockney
David Hockney is a worldfamous British artist known for his vibrant paintings of swimming pools portraits of friends and landscapes He is considered one of the most influential artists of the 20th and 21st centuries
2 What is this exhibition about
This Paris exhibition focuses specifically on Hockneys newest previously unseen paintings showing that even in his 80s he is still creating fresh and exciting work
3 Where and when is the exhibition taking place
The exhibition is being held in Paris You will need to check the specific venue and dates on the official museum or gallery website as these details can change
4 What kind of paintings will I see
You can expect to see a variety of subjects but recent work often features vibrant landscapes intimate portraits and stilllife compositions all characterized by his bold use of color
5 Is this a good exhibition for someone who doesnt know much about art
Absolutely Hockneys work is very accessible due to its bright colors and recognizable subjects Its a great introduction to a living master
Deeper Advanced Questions
6 The title says Still Innovating How is he still innovating in these new works
He continues to experiment with perspective scale and digital tools like the iPad His recent work often plays with multiple viewpoints within a single canvas challenging how we traditionally see a scene
7 What connects these new Parisunseen works to his older classic pieces
The connection is his lifelong fascination with light color and the representation of space While the technology or location may change his joyful exploration of seeing remains a constant theme
8 What is a common challenge or criticism people have when viewing Hockneys later work
Some viewers find his very bright almost artificial color palette or his flattened perspectives to be a departure from traditional landscape painting It can challenge preconceived notions of what a serious painting should look like
9 Can you give an example of a technique hes known for in these recent paintings
A key
