David Hockney’s Tech-Driven Art: Polaroids to iPhones
David Hockney, who passed away at 88 on Friday, was an artist who embraced technological advancements throughout his life. He frequently highlighted how the invention of the metal paint tube in the 19th century transformed outdoor painting. Over the years, he utilized various technologies, including Polaroid cameras, fax machines, photocopiers, iPads, and iPhones. Mark Grimmer, co-founder of 59 Studio, which showcased an immersive exhibition of Hockney’s art in 2023, remarked in a 2025 interview that Hockney had an “omnivorous desire to reach people in new ways” and was “always ahead of the curve.” In the early 1980s, he began using a Polaroid camera to create innovative composite collages, challenging his previous views on photography.
Key facts
- David Hockney died on Friday at age 88.
- Hockney used Polaroid cameras, fax machines, photocopiers, iPads, and iPhones for art.
- He considered 19th-century metal paint tubes a transformative invention.
- Mark Grimmer of 59 Studio worked with Hockney on a 2023 immersive show.
- Hockney acquired a Polaroid camera in the early 1980s.
- He created composite Polaroid collages from multiple angles.
- Hockney initially viewed photography as inferior to painting.
- His collages depicted swimming pools, landscapes, and people.
Entities
Artists
Institutions
- 59 Studio
Locations
- Los Angeles