India, June 13 -- The art world lost one of its most influential and beloved figures on June 11 with the passing of David Hockney at the age of 88. A pioneering British artist whose work transformed contemporary art, Hockney spent more than six decades pushing creative boundaries through painting, photography, portraiture, landscape art, and digital media. Born in the north of England and later making Southern California his second home, he became known for his vibrant depictions of swimming pools, sunlit landscapes, and the intimacy of modern human connections.

Hockney's influence extended far beyond galleries and museums. Openly gay at a time when homosexuality remained criminalised in Britain, he created some of the most significant r...