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David Hockney

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  • Works in the Kenneth E. Tyler Collection
  • Further Reading

Black and White image of David Hockney working in his studio

David Hockney ladling coloured pulp into galvanised metal moulds for "Paper pools" project. Early proof in the paper mill at Tyler Graphics Ltd., Bedford Village, New York, 1978
Gift of Kenneth Tyler 2002
Photographer: Lindsay Green

Only David Hockney has worked in all four Ken Tyler workshops. The English–born artist (1937) has spent many years, on and off, living in America—where some of his most exciting prints have been made; where the discovery of a new technique, a new method of printmaking, often served as a catalyst to explore a new artistic focus.

The first group of prints Tyler and Hockney made together was a set of six colour lithographs, A Hollywood Collection, 1965, at the Gemini Ltd workshop on Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles. Each print is in the form of a different genre of painting—a still life, a landscape, a portrait, a cityscape, a nude and an abstract—an instant art collection.

Hockney and Tyler collaborated again in 1973. Drawing directly onto the stone or plate suited the artist, and he was given a ‘complete palette of colour’ and a ‘complete palette of drawing techniques’; and the subtlety of the washes he could achieve were of a kind that he had never been offered before. He produced a group of accomplished, evocative and sometimes witty colour lithographs, the Weather series, with references to Japanese prints.

On a vist to Tyler’s Bedford workshop in 1978, Hockney discovered paper pulp. After some experimentation he found he could ‘paint’ with this medium and this experience furthered his gift as a colourist and extended the possibilities of paper work. For example, he developed multi–sheet compositions, including A diver, paper pool 17, 1978.

In the mid–1980s, Hockney made a series of 29 prints in colour lithography consisting of interior views and chairs, views of a Mexican hotel, and portraits, including collaged portraits of Celia Birtwell and Gregory Evans. Titled the Moving Focus series, it is a summation of Hockney’s obsession with space—the depiction of space, the use of reverse perspective, the experience of being within a space, and exploring multipoint perspective. In this series the artist drew from lessons learned from his study of Cubism, and his own set designs for opera.

Jane Kinsman

Works in the Kenneth E. Tyler Collection


  • David Hockney, Kenneth Tyler, Kenneth Tyler, Ronald Olds, Donna Rae Hirt, Robert Knisel, Gemini G.E.L., Gemini G.E.L.

    Sun
    1973

  • David Hockney, Kenneth Tyler, Gemini Ltd., Editions Alecto

    Picture of Melrose Avenue in an ornate gold frame
    1965

  • David Hockney

    Lithograph of water made of lines and a green wash
    1978-80

  • David Hockney, Kenneth Tyler, Tyler Graphics Ltd Bedford Village New York, Tyler Graphics Ltd Bedford Village New York

    A diver, paper pool 17
    1978

  • David Hockney, Gemini G.E.L., Gemini G.E.L.

    The master printer of Los Angeles
    1973

  • David Hockney, Tyler Graphics Ltd

    An image of Ken
    1985

  • David Hockney

    Hotel, Acatlan: second day
    1984-85

  • David Hockney, Kenneth Tyler, Tyler Graphics Ltd Bedford Village New York, Tyler Graphics Ltd Bedford Village New York

    An image of Celia
    1984-86

  • David Hockney, Kenneth Tyler, Tyler Graphics Ltd Mount Kisco New York, Tyler Graphics Ltd Mount Kisco New York

    Caribbean tea time
    1987

Browse all works by David Hockey

Further Reading


EXHIBITIONS

  • Lichtenstein to Warhol: The Kenneth Tyler Collection, 2019–20
  • California Cool: Art in Los Angeles, 1960s-70s, 2018–19
  • David Hockney: Prints, 2017–18
  • Printed light, 2004
  • The Big Americans, 2002–03
  • Hockney Masterworks in Paint / Stella & Tyler Masterworks in Print, 1999–2000
  • Lasting impressions: lithography as art, part II, 18 June – 31 July 1988
  • Ken Tyler: printer extraordinary, 6 June – 13 October 1985
  • Paperwork, 13 October 1982 – 16 May 1983
  • David Hockney prints: a touring exhibition from the collection of the Australian National Gallery, 1976

VIDEO

  • David Hockney

NATIONAL GALLERY PUBLICATIONS

  • Lichtenstein to Warhol: The Kenneth Tyler Collection, Jane Kinsman, exhibition catalogue, 2019
  • California Cool, exhibition catalogue, 2018
  • David Hockney: Prints, Jane Kinsman, exhibition catalogue, 2017
  • Workshop: The Kenneth Tyler Collection, Jane Kinsman (ed.), 2015
  • The Art of Collaboration: The Big Americans, Jane Kinsman, 2002
  • Ken Tyler Printer Extraordinary, 1985
  • Paperwork, Pat Gilmour and Anne Wilsford, 1982
  • David Hockney Prints, selected from the collection of the Australian National Gallery, 1976

TYLER GRAPHICS PUBLICATIONS

  • Caribbean Tea Time 1985-1987
  • 23 Lithographs 1978-1980
  • Paper Pools, project notes, 1978
  • Paper Pools, 1978

STORIES

  • Art + Sound: David Hockney playlist
  • David Hockney's cancellation proofs
  • David Hockney prints: the National Gallery of Australia Collection

LEARNING RESOURCES

  • David Hockney: Prints

RELATED LINKS

  • The David Hockney Foundation

Related


The Kenneth E. Tyler Collection

David Hockney's cancellation proofs

A colour photograph of the Hockey Prints exhibition

The Kenneth Tyler Collection team discuss cancellation proofs, a little known practice of print workshops.

Read Time 5 minutes
The Kenneth Tyler Collection /  Video

David Hockney

A video still of two men in a studio, one drawing and another onlooking

Published 2016

Exhibition

Hockney Masterworks in Paint / Stella & Tyler Masterworks in Print

Past Exhibition

14 Oct 1999—26 Jan 2000

International Art

David Hockney
Prints

Past Exhibition
A figure dives into a pool with a splash!

11 Nov 2017—27 May 2018

The Kenneth E. Tyler Collection /  Video

Travelling through images: David Hockney in Mexico

Colour photograph of David Hockney holding a camera to his eye in front of Oaxaca ruins

Published 10 November 2019

The Kenneth Tyler Collection team share some intimate photographs of David Hockney's travels through Mexico

10 minutes 48 seconds
The Kenneth E. Tyler Collection

Travelling through images: David Hockney in Mexico

Colour photograph of David Hockney holding a camera to his eye in front of Oaxaca ruins

Curatorial Assistant of International Art David Greenhalgh explores what David Hockney can do with too much Polaroid film.

Read Time 19 minutes

Yuuma, Gurruburri

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