David Hockney (English, b. 1937). Mixed media of oil pastel and paint on paper titled "Birthday Card for Grey Gallery" depicting three pairs of rollerskates whirling in a circle, 1980.

Provenance: Grey Art Gallery, New York, "David's Evening on Wheels" benefit auction, April 29, 1980; Private Minnesota Collection.

Lot Essay:
David Hockney grew up in Yorkshire, England, and received his artistic training at the Bradford College of Art and the Royal College of Art, from which he graduated in 1962 after shaking things up by refusing to write a graduation essay, claiming that his art spoke for itself. This self-assured and cheeky attitude has stuck with Hockney throughout his career, helping him launch himself into early international success. Hockney has worked in a wide variety of styles and media throughout his career, including pop art, prints, drawings, paintings, and digital art. He is best known for his eye-popping acrylic pool paintings, done in celebration of his adopted home of Southern California. In addition to a wide-ranging and prolific artistic career, Hockney has also found success as a teacher and a theorist, and has published several well-received monographs.

"Celia Musing" and "Celia Elegant" are from Hockney’s 1979 portfolio in collaboration with Gemini G.E.L. in Los Angeles. This portfolio consists of portraits of several of Hockney’s friends, a recurring theme throughout his body of work. It also shows his tremendous versatility as a portraitist, with works in a variety of styles and moods. These two works depict Celia Birtwell, a prominent British textile designer and longtime friend and model of Hockney’s. With spare, almost careless lines, he presents a vivid impression of Celia, chic and cheerful, drifting through an elegant home. The tonality of the lines builds the sense of fleetingness in her poses; it seems that she has briefly paused to contemplate the orchid in front of her before moving on through her day.
Sight; height: 29 1/2 in x width: 38 1/2 in. Framed; height: 30 1/4 in x width: 39 in.

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