David Hockney, summer surveys in London and Portland
Published on 08/19/2026 at 15:02 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
David Hockney stands at the center of two expansive museum exhibitions in 2026. At Serpentine North in London and at Portland Art Museum in Oregon, curators frame his work across digital paintings, prints and large-scale friezes, based on the institutions' current exhibition information.
Major summer show in London
Serpentine North in London hosts David Hockney: A Year in Normandie and Some Other Thoughts about Painting, running from March 12 to August 23, 2026, as the gallery states in its program overview. The exhibition brings the panoramic frieze A Year in Normandie to London for the first time, alongside new still lifes and portraits.
The Serpentine notes that the ninety-meter frieze was inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry and records seasonal changes around Hockney's former Normandy studio. New works from bodies like the Moon Room and Sunrise series extend his long exploration of light and time with iPad painting.
Largest North American survey in Portland
In Portland, Oregon, Portland Art Museum presents David Hockney: Works from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation from February 14 to July 26, 2026. The museum describes the show as the largest North American survey of Hockney's work, with more than 200 prints, collages, videos, photographic works and iPad drawings spanning six decades.
The Portland exhibition focuses on the depth of Hockney's works on paper and digital images, highlighting how printmaking, photography and tablet drawing intersect in his practice. Against this backdrop, visitors see shifts from early graphic works to recent multi-panel digital compositions in one institutional setting.
All news and background on David Hockney
For further reporting on David Hockney's exhibitions, market results and institutional projects, the AD HOC NEWS archive offers additional articles and updates.
The work core across media
Hockney works primarily in painting, drawing and printmaking, with parallel bodies in photography and digital tablet drawing. Key series such as A Year in Normandie, the digitally rendered Moon Room works and long-running swimming pool scenes trace his concern with perception, space and time.
Where the artist stands now
Overall, David Hockney's work in 2026 is framed by museum-scale surveys in London and Portland, with his studio practice continuing to generate new digital paintings and large-scale friezes.
Key facts on David Hockney
- Artist: David Hockney
- Medium / Genre: Painting and drawing (figurative and landscape), printmaking, photography, digital tablet works
- Born: 1937, Bradford, United Kingdom
- Place(s) of practice: Studio practice between the United Kingdom and the United States, with extended working periods in Normandy as documented by recent series.
- Active since: Early 1960s, with recognition following his participation in British pop art exhibitions.
- Key work groups: Swimming pool paintings, A Year in Normandie, Moon Room iPad paintings, Sunrise digital paintings
- Current/last exhibition: David Hockney: A Year in Normandie and Some Other Thoughts about Painting, Serpentine North, London, March 12–August 23, 2026
- Major collections: Tate (London), MoMA (New York), Centre Pompidou (Paris), Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), Los Angeles County Museum of Art
- Awards: Companion of Honour (1997), Order of Merit (2012), various honorary degrees recognizing his contribution to contemporary painting.
- Next date: currently no announced date in the 30-day window
Frequently asked questions about David Hockney
Where can I see David Hockney's work in London in August 2026?
Hockney's exhibition A Year in Normandie and Some Other Thoughts about Painting is on view at Serpentine North in London from March 12 to August 23, 2026, with free admission as noted by the gallery.
What defines the Portland Art Museum show of David Hockney?
Portland Art Museum presents more than 200 works in David Hockney: Works from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation, described as the largest North American survey of his work, on view February 14–July 26, 2026.
Which key series by David Hockney are highlighted in 2026 exhibitions?
Serpentine North focuses on A Year in Normandie and recent digital paintings such as the Moon Room and Sunrise works, while Portland emphasizes prints, collages and iPad drawings spanning six decades.
This article was produced with a.i. support and editorially reviewed. All statements without guarantee; auction results, exhibition dates and awards may change at short notice.
