David Hockney’s Impact on Los Angeles Art and Culture

In the mid-1990s, Los Angeles was awash with David Hockney prints. One such print found its way to me, propped against a battered Volkswagen Rabbit at a West Hollywood garage sale. The print, though water-damaged, caught my eye. The seller simply said, “name your price.” His work was everywhere, from malls to framing stores like Aron Brothers and Michaels, where I later picked up a “Nichols Canyon” landscape. Hockney may not have been the finest artist Los Angeles produced, but he was undeniably popular during those years.

Following Hockney’s passing, art critics have been debating his unique and lasting talent. The New York Times titled one tribute as “How David Hockney Taught Los Angeles to See Itself,” which echoes my sentiment that he showed us the Los Angeles we desired to see. Hockney’s well-known works include the abstract panorama of Mulholland Drive, the Pearblossom Highway photo collage, and various swimming pools nestled in lush, tropical settings.

Hockney supported the mass dissemination of art, writing in his memoir, “The posters are worth keeping, people might like them; they can pin them on a wall.” His posters gained prominence during an era when Los Angeles was not associated with glamorous hillside real estate. The mid-90s were challenging due to economic downturns, crimes, and natural disasters. Despite this, Hockney’s art offered inspiration and aspirations to many, including myself.

Living in a tiny, windowless apartment, I yearned for the California Hockney depicted. His art, such as a geometric blue swimming pool, helped bridge connections with my neighbor, an artist with an appreciation for Hockney. These connections reinforced the importance of his work, even as Los Angeles underwent transformations.

Now, in 2026, Hockney’s portrayal of Los Angeles may seem limited. His vision might appear smaller as the city expanded beyond the scope of his framed visions. While those prints seldom adorn walls today, and mine have long been relegated to storage, I am grateful for the perspective Hockney brought. Though I never acquired a Hollywood Hills mansion, my suburban backyard with its small pool still invokes dreams as the morning sun ripples through the water.

“Hockney’s work depicted a Los Angeles we all aspired to—a sentiment that resonated with many.”

Ultimately, Hockney offered a view of Los Angeles that was intimate yet expansive, resonating with those who saw his work as both attainable and inspiring.