David Hockney: Early reflections

David Hockney is considered to be one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. This exhibition brought together a unique selection of paintings and prints, which charted the early development of this iconic British artist.

Featuring work from the Walker’s own collection, including Peter Getting out of Nick's Pool , which won the John Moores Painting Prize in 1967, together with key pieces from the Arts Council Collection and other loans, the exhibition explored Hockney’s early influences. With almost 40 pieces on display, dating between 1960 to 1978, the exhibition was an insight into Hockney’s prodigious talent which was evident even as a student. Through recurring obsessions, such as the evolving references to his own homosexuality, depictions of the reflective qualities of water and his persistent return to portraiture, the exhibition revealed how his style, which flourished during the 1960s, had changed dramatically by the early 1970s. Curated by Ann Bukantas and Linda Pittwood in partnership with Arts Council Collection, Homotopia and Christie's.