Review: Hockney's iPad Paintings at Serpentine Fall Flat

So, there’s been quite a backlash regarding David Hockney's posthumous exhibition, "A Year in Normandie and Some Other Thoughts About Painting," held at Serpentine North Gallery in London from March until August 23, 2026. This show features a massive 295-foot iPad artwork called "A Year in Normandie" (2020–21) and some new acrylic pieces from 2025. A critic argues that while the iPad piece aims to echo the Bayeux Tapestry and Chinese scrolls, it comes off as overly corporate and lacks Hockney's finesse, leading to flat visuals. In contrast, the physical paintings displayed, including gingham-table scenes and a nod to Gerhard Richter's "Abstraktes Bild," showcase genuine artistry. Hockney died at 88 in 2026, shortly after the exhibit opened. A major retrospective is planned for Tate Britain next year, curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist, Claude Adjil, and Liz Stumpf.