David Hockney: Tributes to Yorkshire's most beloved artist after death aged 88
The co-director of Salts Mill, the home of the largest collection of David Hockney’s work, has paid tribute to the artist who she described as “a generous soul who loved joy.”
Zoe Silver knew Mr Hockney for decades, following her late father Jonathan Silver’s close friendship with the artist.
That friendship - formed when Mr Silver was a teenage pupil at Bradford Grammar School hoping that Mr Hockney would design a cover for the school magazine - led to a collaboration with the Mill, in Saltaire, which has endured for nearly four decades.
Speaking to the Yorkshire Post, Ms Silver said: “When my dad first bought the Mill in 1987, the first thing he did was strip out this huge room on the ground floor which he wanted to fill with pictures by David Hockney.
“And that is exactly what he did. He knew he wanted to fill it with art and beauty, and David was so happy to join in.
“That just says so much about the spirit of the man. He was keen on fun, and so was my dad, and they had a super time together which led to some amazing things.”
A display of David Hockney’s work forms the 1853 gallery on the Mill’s ground floor, with its top floor exhibition space often home to his later works, including his iPad paintings of A Year In Normandie.
Jonathan Silver died from cancer in 1997, aged just 47. But David Hockney’s relationship with the Mill endured.
Zoe Silver said: “When my dad was very ill, he was always urging David to paint Yorkshire and show its beauty. Seeing it through the eyes of the greatest artist is completely transformative.
“They are the most extraordinary paintings, full of love for the world.”
Reflecting on her personal memories of Mr Hockney, she said: “He was a truly generous soul. He loved fun, he loved to smile, he loved to joke, and he loved joy. He always loved the Laurel and Hardy films, and Singin in the Rain. He just loved life.
“You walk around this place, and you think it’s unbelievable that one man in one lifetime has created all this work. He was unbelievably clever, had a huge intellect and knowledge of art history.
“David was interested in the Chinese expression of ‘hand, eye and heart.’ And you can see all that work is from the same hand, eye and heart.
“My mum always used to say he was born to paint, and that, for him, anyone else being interested was a bonus. But it was all about the art, creating beauty, and then sharing it with people.”
David Hockney’s former school in Bradford has paid tribute to the artist after his death aged 88.
Mr Hockney attended Bradford School of Art - now Bradford College - from 1953.
During his attendance at the school, he sold his first painting, which was a portrait of his father, for £10, at the Yorkshire Artists Exhibition in 1957.
Liz Leek, Bradford College Deputy CEO, said: “David Hockney was not only one of the world’s greatest artists, but also one of Bradford’s most inspiring sons. His journey from Bradford School of Art to international acclaim embodies the transformative power of education and creativity. He remains a source of immense pride for our College, our city, and the wider cultural community.”
In 2014, Bradford College named its flagship £50 million new building after him. The six-storey ‘David Hockney Building’ is now an established campus facility.
A spokesperson said: “As a former student, Hockney represents the very best of Bradford College’s creative heritage. His legacy continues to inspire generations of students to pursue their artistic ambitions and to see the world through a more imaginative and expressive lens.
“Bradford College extends its heartfelt condolences to David Hockney’s family, friends, and all those who were touched by his life and work.”
A stained glass artist who worked with David Hockney on his Westminster Abbey window tribute to Queen Elizabeth II has described their time together as a “privilege and the greatest honour.”
Mr Hockney was invited by the Dean of Westminster Abbey to produce the stained-glass Queen’s Window, which was unveiled in 2018.
He designed the window, which features a hawthorn blossom in his native Yorkshire, on his iPad, and it was brought to life in stained glass by Helen Whittaker, who is based in Dunnington, just outside York.
Ms Whittaker said: “It was a privilege and the greatest honour to have been selected to work alongside the Yorkshire born artist.
“I was lucky enough to spend time with him at his home in LA.
“He was generous with his time and I learned so much.
“The project was special because I helped David translate his first-ever stained glass design into physical reality
“I’ll always be grateful for that time and it still is and always will remain one of the highlights of my career.”
Mr Hockney also visited Helen’s York workshop to ensure his signature, asymmetrical style was preserved in the traditional glass medium.
Reflecting on the project, Helen praised Mr Hockney as being "incredibly exciting" because he was willing to take artistic risks and break away from the idea of traditional "religious wallpaper.”