British Painter David Hockney, Giant of Contemporary Art, Dies at 88

—David Hockney, the Yorkshire-born painter celebrated for his vivid depictions of California swimming pools, English landscapes, and modernist portraiture, died in France at the age of 88. Hockney was one of the most recognised British artists of the 20th century, fusing pop sensibility with classical draughtsmanship across oil, photography, and digital media. His 'A Bigger Splash' and 'Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)' are among the most famous British paintings of the postwar era. Tributes from artists, institutions, and heads of state began flowing in immediately after the announcement.