Live Now on Artnet Auctions: Discover Why David Hockney’s iPad Drawings Make a Unique Way To Collect His Iconic Work

Artnet Auctions March 31, 2021 ShareShare This Article

One of the most influential British artists of the 20th century, David Hockney is famed for his bright paintings of swimming pools, landscapes, and portraits of friends. Now through April 7, don’t miss your chance to bid on Sunflowers (2010), one of three opportunities to collect prints by the legendary artist in our Premier Prints & Multiples sale.

Throughout his career, Hockney has been an innovator who has experimented with new technologies that challenge artistic norms. Early in his career, Hockney adopted Polaroid photography and collage. In recent years, Hockney’s iPad drawings—rendered on the Brushes app—have received critical acclaim, including dedicated exhibitions at Pace Gallery, Gray New York, and the Heard Museum in Phoenix.

In Sunflowers, one such iPad drawing, a vivid bouquet of sunflowers appears with a luminous, back-lit quality which translates stunningly on printed paper. The digitally-rendered drawings challenge the limits of more conventional artistic mediums, but ultimately allow Hockney to convey his own iconic style in a new way. Even the stray lines and marks of the digital eraser draw clear attention to the artist’s hand—or stylus—upon the screen.

Hockney lots that sold for more than high estimate vs. lots sold for less than mean estimate across all mediums (2015-2021), showing a healthy demand in terms of bidding at auction.

Since Hockney’s iPad drawings first appeared on the auction block in 2015, their value has climbed, reaching an all-time high in 2018. Estimated at $50,000—70,000, Sunflowers (2010) is an exceptionally well-priced work from the highly coveted series. The global auction sales volume for Hockney’s artwork has also continued to increase since 2015, as pieces consistently sell for more than their high estimate. This signals a high demand and increasing value for all of Hockney’s work, including his iPad drawings.

It is uncommon to encounter an original print by Hockney at this price point, and Premier Prints & Multiples presents three opportunities to collect an original, with Sunflowers (2010), Early Morning (2009) and ‘No. 778’, 17th April 2011 (from My Morning) (2019) all live now. As the value of his work increases, don’t miss the opportunity to add a Hockney iPad drawing to your collection—bidding is live through April 7 on Artnet Auctions.