Do remember they can’t cancel the Spring
Fondation Louis Vuitton, Paris
From April 9th until August 31st, 2025
In a monumental retrospective, Fondation Louis Vuitton has just opened its landmark exhibition dedicated to David Hockney, one of the most influential artists of the past century. The expansive showcase occupies the entire museum, making it the largest exhibition ever devoted to Hockney’s work, and brings together over 400 pieces spanning his extraordinary 70-year career, from 1955 to 2025.
On entry, visitors are welcomed with an introduction on the pond level, featuring key works from the 1950s to the 1970s, from early pieces dated back to Hockney’s beginnings in Bradford, such as Portrait of My Father (1955), through his formative periods in London and California. Iconic paintings like A Bigger Splash (1967) and Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures 1972) reflect his fascination with the swimming pool theme, and one that reoccurs throughout his practice. Also on display are his celebrated double portraits, including Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy (1970–71) and Christopher Isherwood and Don Bachardy (1968).
The exhibition showcases a variety of media too, cue oil and acrylic paintings as well as ink, pencil, and charcoal drawings. It also highlights the evolution of Hockney’s practice through his exploration of digital techniques, including works created on iPhones and iPads, such as the iPad series 220 for 2020, along with photographic drawings and immersive video installations.
With such a major showing, Hockney has been personally involved in shaping the entire exhibition, working closely with his partner and studio manager Jean-Pierre Gonçalves de Lima, and assistant Jonathan Wilkinson, he has curated the layout and composition of each section.
opening images: David Hockney, Bigger Trees near Warter or ou Peinture sur le Motif pour le Nouvel Age Post-Photographique, 2007.
“This exhibition means an enormous amount because it is the largest exhibition I’ve ever had – 11 rooms in the Fondation Louis Vuitton. Some of the very last paintings I’m working on now will be included in it, and I think it’s going to be very good.”
While the retrospective offers an overview of his early achievements, the central focus here is on the past 25 years of his creative journeyings. This period, largely from Yorkshire, Normandy, and London, highlight a connection with nature, like the depiction of seasonal change in works such as May Blossom on the Roman Road (2009) and the vast winter landscape Bigger Trees near Warter or/ou Peinture sur le Motif pour le Nouvel Age Post-Photographique (2007), on loan from Tate. His exploration of space and perspective is further demonstrated in the panoramic A Bigger Grand Canyon (1998), while After Munch: Less is Known than People Think (2023) pays homage to the masters who left their mark.
“This exhibition reveals David Hockney’s incredible ability to continually reinvent his art, embracing tradition and modernity, painting and new technologies.”
Bringing together significant loans from international museums, private collections, and Hockney’s own foundation and studio, the exhibition offers a rare chance to experience the full scope and evolution of his vision; and with thanks to FLV we can step into the creative world of an artist whose work continues to challenge, delight, and inspire.
For further information fondationlouisvuitton.fr.
