The Portland Art Museum (PAM) is showing a new major exhibition about the artist David Hockney, exploring how his art has evolved throughout the years. It’s called “David Hockney: Works from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation“. It features over 100 of Hockney’s artworks for a limited time. It is currently on display and will be available to see until August 26, 2026.
Hockney was born in 1937 in Bradford, England. In 1953, he enrolled in Bradford School of Art, where he received traditional art education. He then continued his studies at the Royal College of Art (RCA) and then graduated in 1962, where he continued to keep developing his art style. During his time at RCA, his art style was heavily inspired by Pablo Picasso, as demonstrated by his bold, expressive art style, Picasso had a very similar colorful art style.
Hockney is known for bright, colorful art across many different styles. The exhibition includes prints, collages, photography and video from over sixty years of his career, showcasing how his style has changed over time. “His style is super unique,” says Mari Lasuncet, a student at Ida B. Wells-Barnett High School (IBW) and PAM fan. “It’s interesting to see how it evolved.” People love to see how Hockney’s style changed from expressive, pop and colorful paintings to digital art, which is also available for viewing.
The exhibit is important because it gives people a chance to see many different kinds of Hockney’s work over the years in one place. “I love exhibits like this,” says Ro Routh, a PAM lover and student at IBW. “It’s super cool to see all of the different kinds of works over many years.” One of people’s favorite things about the exhibit is how much artwork there is. There’s so much artwork of different kinds to look through, it seems to not get boring for people to look through. It also shows how artwork in general has evolved throughout history, from traditional to digital. The museum also hosts other programs related to this exhibition, including film screenings, including cinematic works exploring color, identity, and other things about Hockney, and talks by artists, like expert conversations that explore his creative process, and “slow-looking” gallery walks that dive into every single artwork individually. Overall, the David Hockney exhibition is an exciting event for students, families, and anyone who likes and enjoys modern art.
