David Hockney, now 87, is preparing for what he calls the most significant exhibition of his career, opening April 9 at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. The massive retrospective will feature nearly 400 works—paintings, drawings, prints, and stage designs—occupying the entire Frank Gehry–designed building. It marks the museum’s largest show to date and offers a sweeping view of Hockney’s evolution over seven decades.

Despite his fragile health, Hockney continues to work daily from his London studio, painting from a wheelchair and adding new pieces to the Paris show, including portraits and large-scale works inspired by Edvard Munch and William Blake. He remains deeply engaged with art and culture, attending exhibitions, reading, and maintaining a close-knit team that supports his work and life. His motto, “Love life,” guides his process and his presence, which still captures the attention of artists, curators, and even the King.

Fondation Louis Vuitton presents David Hockney 25. LVMH

Born in 1937 in Bradford, Hockney has spent time in cities including Los Angeles, Paris, and Normandy, shaping his work through constant reinvention. Early in his career, his acrylic paintings of California pools and double portraits helped define his international reputation. Over time, he experimented with opera set designs, panoramic landscapes like A Bigger Grand Canyon, and digital drawings on iPhones and iPads, always adapting new mediums to explore visual perception.

Those who know him describe Hockney’s approach as both obsessive and joyous. He pays microscopic attention to color and form, rendering each element with clarity and care. Critics and artists alike compare him to Degas, Picasso, and Holbein, not for imitation, but for his ability to translate how we see into how we feel. His influence stretches across generations, and his self-styled image—yellow Crocs, checkerboard ties, colorful suits—has made him as visually distinctive as his work.

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In a career spanning over 70 years, Hockney has remained committed to showing the world not just what he sees, but how to see. His upcoming show in Paris offers what may be the most comprehensive reflection yet of that vision.