David Hockney: 82 portraits and 1 still-life

Joyful exhibition at the Royal Academy of recent work by David Hockney.

This was such a beautifully displayed show. All the portraits were the same size with the sitter on the same chair in the same space. They were hung round the room so the sitter’s heads were at your head height. It felt like being at a great party!

The works were beautiful individual works as well. Somehow the sameness of the pictures makes you look hard at the differences and each showed an insight into the person. Some sitters sat back and looked relaxed, others leant forward as if they were talking to you. I loved the colours of the clothes. I particularly remember a lady in a wonderful long red skirt which had a Velazquez feel to the drapery.

I also began to realise how many of the sitters were from the contemporary art world, not only artists but I recognised the names of dealers and gallery owners and even a publisher. This set will last, not only as a great art work, but also as a picture of the art scene at this moment in time.

Closes on 2 October 2016.

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