06/13/2026
We were saddened to learn of the passing of David Hockney, one of the most influential and beloved artists of the last century, who died on June 11 at the age of 88.
Arthur Roger Gallery had the privilege of presenting exhibitions of Hockney's work in 1981 and again in 1986, including original drawings and his innovative photographic collages. These exhibitions were made possible through the vision and generosity of Nathan Kolodner, then director of the Andre Emmerich Gallery in New York.
Looking back through our archives, it is remarkable to remember that New Orleans audiences had the opportunity to encounter this work firsthand decades ago. A review of the 1986 exhibition singled out Hockney's photo collages as among the most compelling works in the show, praising their inventiveness and visual energy.
Arthur often recalls that while the exhibitions generated little commercial success at the time, he never doubted the importance of the work. What mattered was bringing extraordinary art to New Orleans and sharing it with a growing contemporary art audience.
Today, Hockney's work resides in major museum collections around the world, but we remain proud to have played a small role in presenting his work here and grateful for the friendships and collaborations that made those exhibitions possible.
Rest in peace, David Hockney. Your vision transformed how generations of people see the world.
