Part 3. Love Life
HOCKNEY REPRODUCTION(S)
A Celebration of the Life and Art of David Hockney (1937–2026)
Manship Artists Residency
Gloucester Massachusetts
September 11 – October 18, 2026
HOCKNEY REPRODUCTION(S) opens on September 11th at Manship Artists Residency. It is a show about reproduction made up entirely of reproductions. Reproduction was extremely important to David Hockney. He knew this was how most people would see his vast output of work and made sure the images always had the highest graphic impact. In addition to over 75 rare posters, the show will include prints, fax collages, many books and catalogues, photos, movies, and a variety of other media. A series of lectures, seminars, and interactive events is also on the schedule.
This is the third in a series of essays by Bing McGilvray on the Hockney exhibition.
If you wish to find out more about the people, places or titles in this piece, click on the links embedded in the text.
© Bing McGilvray
July 22, 2026
ARS LONGA, VITA BREVIS
“Now cracks a noble heart. Good night sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”
— Wm. Shakespeare. Hamlet.
On the morning of June 12, barely awake, sitting with my coffee, I opened my emails as I always do. The first one began: “The celebrated British artist David Hockney, one of the most important figures in contemporary art in both the 20th and 21st centuries, passed away peacefully at home on 11 June 2026, one month short of his 89th birthday.” It was the official press release from David Hockney Inc., a detailed obituary obviously prepared well ahead of time, sent out at midnight.
DH exits his exhibition at the Centre Pompidou, Paris, June 20, 2017
Then sing the angels did. Outpourings of love and appreciation from around the globe flooded my inbox. Every media outlet featured glowing tributes. Social media exploded with images of his art. A torrent of remembrances from famous and ordinary fans alike flowed in. TikTok erupted with clips of his pithy quips. Truly, David Hockney touched millions of lives and changed the way we see the world around us. There has never been a living artist so universally admired, indeed loved. Deservedly so.
As one friend remarked, “Hockney is up there with the greats now, Picasso, Van Gogh, Matisse, Rembrandt … his work will continue to thrill and inspire for centuries to come.”
Personally, in the days that followed, the steady exchange of calls, texts, and emails from dozens of good friends and distant acquaintances lifted my spirits. Death came not as a surprise but still it was a devastating shock. My dearest, most loyal friend was gone. Overwhelmed by the mix of emotions, I developed a serious case of ADHD (After David Hockney Disorder), yet I was deep into preparations for our ambitious exhibition. No longer could I grab the phone and have a FaceTime with David, share details of our progress at Manship, get his instant support and approval – or share a laugh.
HUMORESQUE
“Keep laughing, it clears the lungs.”
—David Hockney
David loved to laugh and I do too. He had a repertoire of jokes like the music hall comedians he enjoyed as a child growing up in Bradford, England. Corny, clever, often risqué, they made me laugh no matter how many times I heard them. He would have chuckled over my ADHD pun. We had so much fun over our 48 years of friendship. Gala openings, dinner parties, working in the studio, global travels, road trips, or the intimate moments just sitting at home getting stoned and watching Singing in the Rain for the 20th time. Some things never get old. ‘Love Life’ was Hockney’s motto and this gentle genius lived life to the fullest.
Bing and DH – 1982 and 2022
A LIFE IN PICTURES
But how does one sum up such an extraordinary life, the enormous variety of his oeuvre, the radical discoveries that turned the art world on its ear, the endless invention and innovative use of technology? The Hockney Foundation Chronology covers his career in illustrated detail yet barely scratches the surface. Imagine describing the celestial heavens to someone who had only heard of it. Impossible. David Hockney was the most radiant star in the art world firmament. I was so lucky and privileged to have had him as a friend and mentor. But I am putting my personal story aside for now and shifting the focus where it rightly belongs, to the master himself.
DH looking at pictures with (left to right) Charlie Scheips, Ian Falconer, and Arthur Lambert; Alison Krauss and Joni Mitchell; Annie and Tali Lennox; Lindy Dufferin; Marlon West; Jonathan Wilkinson, Art Spiegelman, and Françoise Mouly; Doug Roberts; Clive Davis; Ryan Oakes.
Hockney never tired of looking at pictures, all kinds of pictures. He even wrote a book about it, A History of Pictures with art historian Martin Gayford. David loved to share his joy of looking with anybody, anywhere. HOCKNEY REPRODUCTION(S) will continue to spread this joy. There will be more images than anyone can look at in a single visit. The best way to explain some of what we have planned is to tell you in pictures. Hockney wanted everyone to own his work, not just well-heeled investors. Hockney’s art was for all humankind. That is the spirit of this exhibition. HOCKNEY REPRODUCTION(S) will be a feast for the eyes and a joyous celebration!
THE MANSHIP TEAM
We have a first-class crew working on the exhibition and I want to introduce them now. Everyone is putting in their extra effort, and I could not be more grateful.
The Team (left to right) Rebecca Reynolds; Richard Benefield with DH; Thomas Sherman; Katherine Richmond
POSTERS
“The poster can be a marvelous reproduction, better than anything in a book. And if you print them well and take the photographs of the paintings well, the posters are worth keeping … (people) can pin them on the wall.” — DH
A small selection of works from HOCKNEY REPRODUCTION(S) photo ©️ Michael Wiklund.
PRINTS
“Printmaking is drawing multiplied.” — DH
Hockney utilized the latest technology to make dazzling prints. Home Made Prints, iPad prints, color copies, and even A Bounce for Bradford, a free print made with the four-color newspaper process and given to anyone who got the hometown paper one morning - David loved to share his work in print. We will have examples of them all.
FAXES
“What an artist is trying to do for people is bring them together, because of course art is about sharing.” – DH
It was a bold idea to send an entire show around the globe via the fax machine but that’s just what Hockney did, to Brazil, Japan, and Salts Mill in England. When I was the Towers Records Art Director in Boston back in the late 80s, I would receive multiple faxes every day and collage them together. We will demonstrate how it was done by assembling the 24-page, 4-foot square Breakfast with Stanley in Malibu (above) on site.
BOOKS and CATALOGUES
“I’ve always known that pictures get known by being reproduced. But they also have to be memorable.” —David Hockney
Bing at Tower Records in 1989 with one of the many fax collages sent by DH. Photo collage (detail) ©️ Mike Savage.
Hockney always took hands-on care with the making of his books and catalogues. We will have a full library to look through, including the biggest art book of all, Taschen’s massive David Hockney, A Bigger Book SUMO edition which comes with its own stand.
Matthew Swift and Bing with Taschen's David Hockney, A Bigger Book.
Some of the rare books we will have for your perusal.
SALTS MILL GIFT SHOP
We have partnered with our friends at Salts Mill in Bradford UK to provide a selection of Hockney posters, books, and other treasures in our gift shop.
Salts Mill 1997 © David Hockney
September 11–October 18, 2026
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays | 1:00-5:00 PM
Manship Artists Residency. Gloucester, Massachusetts
Bing McGilvray will regularly give tours when the show is open to the public.
EVENTS SCHEDULE*
Sept. 13, 6pm — Author, artist, and curator Charlie Scheips, a longtime friend of DH, will give a lecture at Manship Artists Residency
Sept. 19, 6pm — Richard Benefield, former director of the Hockney Foundation, will give a lecture at Manship Artists Residency
Sept. 26, 2pm — David Hockney—Bigger Picture will be screened at Sawyer Free Library followed by a remote Q&A with director Bruno Wollheim, Coluga Pictures
Oct. 3, 2pm — Private art dealer Doug Roberts, also a longtime friend of DH, will be interviewed by producer/director Heather Atwood at Manship Artists Residency
Oct. 6, 2pm — A screening of the 2001 BBC documentary Secret Knowledge, directed by Randall Wright, will be followed by a Q&A discussion with Bing McGilvray at the Sawyer Free Library
Make iOct. 10, 6pm, — A Day on the Grand Canal with the Emperor of Chinadirected by Philip Haas will be screened at Manship Artists Residencyt stand out
*Events schedule subject to changes. Keep your eye on the COSMOS for most recent listings.
More surprises will be announced in the weeks to come. We look forward to seeing you and sharing the Joy of Looking during this unique and exciting exhibition.
Bing McGilvray is a feature writer and illustrator for Cape Ann COSMOS. As the creator of Cosmic Bear Comix and BingOgrams he has wandered far and wide, to UMass (BA ‘76), UCLA (MFA ‘86), here, there and beyond. Used to be he was everywhere (like Cosmic Bear) but Bing now happily resides in Gloucester MA and has little desire to “go over the bridge.”
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