David Hockney's exhibition, "Drawing from Life," at the National Portrait Gallery in London, had to close after only 20 days in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the exhibition is set to return on November 2, 2023, after the completion of the museum's renovation. Among the new works that will be included is a portrait of Harry Styles, the charismatic singer.
Last year, Hockney spent two days at his studio in Normandy to create the portrait of Styles. The painting, done in acrylic on canvas, depicts Styles sitting in a cane chair, wearing a colorful striped cardigan, blue jeans, rings, and a pearl necklace.
Hockney admitted that at the time of the portrait, he wasn't fully aware of Styles' celebrity status. Styles, on the other hand, had been a fan of Hockney and even wore hand-painted pants featuring an illustration of Hockney for his Vogue cover shoot in 2020.
The idea for Styles to sit for Hockney came from music producer Clive Davis, who also had his portrait painted by Hockney. Styles readily accepted the invitation to sit for the artist, and the process was straightforward.
The exhibition, Drawing from Life, not only includes Styles' portrait but also showcases Hockney's work spanning 60 years, featuring portraits of five other individuals, including Hockney himself. Timed tickets for the exhibition can be purchased online.
Hockney's exhibition promises to offer a diverse and fascinating collection of portraits, demonstrating the artist's longstanding influence in reinventing the way we perceive the world.
Jean Dubreil
