Matthew HigginsThe Yorkshire born artist has been prolific in the media over the last twelve months, from being appointed membership to the Order of Merit by the Queen (here), to igniting rows in the art world after criticising artist Damien Hirst (here). Once again Hockney is making headline news, but this time it is most definitely for all the right reasons.
On February 17th, 150 pieces of Hockney’s work will be going under the hammer at the London based auctioneer, Christies. Recently much of his work has been done harnessing new technology such as Ipads to create new works of art, but the auction will be focused on his more traditional paper works, from the artist’s 1954 lithograph of a fish and chip shop owned by friends of his parents in Bradford, to photomontages of the 1980s.
The whole auction is said to be estimated at £1m which includes a set of 16 etchings based on Hogarth’s “The Rake’s Progress” and a few others inspired by his more youthful experiences in New York. The etchings are expected to be sold between £150,000 and £200,000. Also featuring in the auction will be the 1962 sketch ‘The Diploma’ which was a piece done in protest against the RCA (Royal College of Art in London) when they would not let him graduate after he refused to write an essay required for the final examination, saying he should be judged on the merit of his artwork alone.
Hockney’s work is currently on exhibition at London’s Royal Academy, and last year he was also the main exhibit at the York Art Gallery.
