Kenneth Hockney Dies
In February, Hockney’s father passes away. Hockney returns home to Bradford, England, for the funeral and to spend time with his mother.
Concerning Tate's acquisitions
In London in February, Hockney writes an article for publication on March 4 in the Observer—a plea to Tate to stop favoring abstract art in its acquisitions.
We know that art can be full of joy, and my criticism of the Tate’s present attitude is that it is so narrow, so biased in favor of joyless and soulless and theoretical art. In taking this narrow view, they are also being extremely arrogant. It is a view they are trying to impose on the public.
Prints at Gemini G.E.L. and Tyler Graphics
In L.A., Hockney works with Gemini G.E.L. on lithographs of Celia Birtwell and Ann Upton. He then moves on to Tyler Graphics where he makes more lithographic portraits, among them Joe McDonald and Henry Geldzahler.
Portraits aren’t just made up of drawing, they are made up of other insights as well. Celia is one of the few girls I know really well. I’ve drawn her so many times and knowing her makes it always slightly different. I don’t bother getting the likeness in her face because I know it so well. She has many faces and I think if you looked through all the drawings I’ve done of her, you’d see that they don’t look alike.
L.A. portraits
He continues to work in acrylic for his new paintings, producing portraits at a swift pace. One of his most striking sitters is Divine, introduced to [NESTED]Hockney by artist Don Bachardy at Divine’s request. Hockney takes the opportunity to experiment with his fresh, California-inspired painterly style, capturing the flamboyant actor and beloved personality full figure, with distant gaze but raw visage.
A new house in the Hollywood Hills
Hockney takes up residence in a highly perched house in the Hollywood Hills sharing it with Gregory Evans.
Exhibitions
Solo
- Paper Pools, André Emmerich Gallery, New York, NY, USA (Jan 6–27).
- David Hockney, André Emmerich Gallery, New York, NY, USA (Mar 1979).
- The Blue Guitar, Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY, USA (Apr 10–Jul 10).
Group
- This Knot of Life: Current British Painting & Drawing, Part I, L.A. Louver, Venice, CA, USA (Oct 23–Nov 17); catalogue.
- Four Painters: Derek Boshier, Bridget Riley, David Hockney, Patrick Caulfield, Scottish National Gallery of Art, Edinburgh, UK (Dec 1, 1979–Feb 28, 1980).
Publications
Publications
- This Knot of Life: Paintings and drawings, L.A. Louver, Venice, CA.
- David Hockney prints 1954–77, by Andrew Brighton, Nottingham, U.K..
- Pictures by David Hockney, edited by Nikos Stangos, London: Thames & Hudson.