Charleston, the modernist home and studio of painters Vanessa Bell (1879-1961) and Duncan Grant (1885-1978) in Sussex, will also be celebrating the art of David Hockney this autumn.
Love Life, opening on 23 September, presents a collection of rarely seen drawings by the internationally acclaimed artist, from the early years of his career. The drawings highlight David Hockney’s love for life – the artist is known to write ‘Love life’ at the end of his letters – and they show his artistic brilliance in capturing the essence of his subjects with remarkable economy, using pencil, coloured crayon and pen and ink.
From a box of matches on a table to bunches of spring onions and leeks, the drawings exemplify Hockney’s ability to find beauty in everyday objects. And, in capturing the character of his subjects, Hockney’s drawings show a depth of emotion that cannot easily be replicated in grand painted portraits.
Curated by Chris Stephens, Director of the Holburne Museum in Bath where the exhibition has also been shown, Love Life will be in the Wolfson Gallery at Charleston, and there will also be a programme of events.
Nathaniel Hepburn, Director and Chief Executive at Charleston says: “Made over sixty years ago, Hockney’s drawings of intimate moments still resonate with a freshness and joy. It’s wonderful to see these works at Charleston – a place where art and experimental thinking have always been placed at the centre of everyday life. Hockney’s work exemplifies these ideals, finding beauty in the ordinary moments and creating a connection to audiences and the queer experience across the generations.”
David Hockney: Love Life opens at Charleston on 23 September (until 10 March 2024). For further information: charleston.org.uk
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Image: David Hockney, Ozzie Wearing a Fairisle Sweater, 1970, coloured pencil on paper, 17 x 14” © David Hockney Photo credit: Fabrice Gibert