The Fondation Louis Vuitton’s sweeping retrospective of David Hockney’s work is more than a look back — it’s a bold, technicolor assertion of what art can still be.
David Hockney has always painted like someone who sees more than the rest of us. Now, at 87, he’s showing us everything. The Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris has handed over its entire Frank Gehry-designed space to the artist for “David Hockney 25,” a retrospective that spans seven decades and over 400 works. It’s the largest exhibition of his career, and it feels like a final, joyful exhale.
The show opens with early pieces from the 1950s, including a portrait of his father painted when Hockney was just 18. From there, it moves through the sun-soaked Los Angeles years—think “A Bigger Splash” and “Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)”—before diving into the Yorkshire and Normandy landscapes that have defined his more recent work. Throughout, there’s a sense of continuity: the same fascination with light, space, and the act of seeing.
Hockney has always embraced new technologies, and this exhibition is no exception. His iPad drawings, created during the 2020 lockdown, are displayed alongside traditional paintings, blurring the lines between mediums. An immersive installation showcases his opera set designs, adding another layer to his multifaceted career.
Curated with input from Hockney himself, along with his partner Jean-Pierre Gonçalves de Lima and studio assistant Jonathan Wilkinson, the exhibition feels deeply personal. It’s not just a look back; it’s a statement of continued relevance and creative vitality.
“David Hockney 25” is on view at the Fondation Louis Vuitton through August 31, 2025. Whether you’re a longtime admirer or new to his work, it’s an exhibition that invites you to see the world through Hockney’s eyes—vivid, curious, and endlessly alive.
