The Latest in the Art World: David Hockney Tributes, New Museum Openings, and Public Art

The latest in the art world highlights how artists, museums, and cultural institutions continue to shape global conversations through awards, landmark exhibitions, public installations, and celebrations of artistic legacies. From the National Portrait Gallery honoring outstanding contemporary portraiture and Serpentine unveiling an immersive public sculpture to a major new museum in Memphis and a tribute to David Hockney, these stories reflect an art world that is constantly evolving while remaining deeply connected to history, community, and culture. Together, they offer a glimpse into the people, places, and projects making headlines across the international art scene.

National Portrait Gallery Announces Marc Dalessio as the 2026 Portrait Award Winner

The National Portrait Gallery has announced Marc Dalessio as the winner of the 2026 Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award, recognizing his striking portrait Jean-Denis (2025). One of the world’s most respected portrait painting competitions, the annual award celebrates excellence in contemporary portraiture and continues to spotlight emerging and established artists from around the globe.

Dalessio, a Los Angeles-born artist now based in southwest France, received the £35,000 top prize for his intimate portrait of his neighbor, painted over six sittings using natural light in his studio. Best known for his plein air landscapes, the artist returned to portraiture after restoring a former artist’s studio in France. The award-winning work began when his neighbor unexpectedly asked to sit for a portrait, resulting in a painting praised by the judges for its emotional sensitivity, technical refinement, and understated composition.

This year’s competition attracted 1,474 entries from artists representing 63 countries, reflecting the award’s continued international significance. A total of 51 shortlisted portraits will be exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in London from June 25 to October 7 before touring to the Derby Museum and Art Gallery and The Gallery at The Arc in Winchester.

The competition also recognized several other outstanding artists. Manchester-based Chloe Cox received second prize for What’s Mine is Yours, a portrait celebrating foster carers, while London artist Michael Slusakowicz earned third prize for Charlie and Magda. The Young Artist Award was presented to Joel Nichols for In Our Borderlands, highlighting the next generation of portrait painters.

Since its launch in 1980, the Portrait Award has become one of the art world’s most influential portrait competitions, helping launch the careers of numerous artists while reaffirming the enduring relevance of portrait painting in contemporary practice.

Sources: National Portrait Gallery.

London to Host First Public Memorial for David Hockney in 2027

The first public memorial celebrating the life and legacy of David Hockney will be held in London in spring 2027, according to a statement released by the artist’s representatives. The event will offer admirers from around the world an opportunity to honor one of Britain’s most influential contemporary artists, whose career transformed modern painting through six decades of innovation, experimentation, and optimism.

In keeping with Hockney’s personal wishes, his private funeral took place shortly after his passing and was attended by only two people, his longtime partner, Jean-Pierre Gonçalves de Lima, and his great-nephew, Richard Hockney. Both serve as trustees of the David Hockney Foundation, which is dedicated to preserving, exhibiting, and advancing scholarship surrounding the artist’s work. Following the London memorial, additional public commemorations are planned for Yorkshire, Paris, and Los Angeles, reflecting the places that shaped both Hockney’s life and artistic journey.

The announcement comes just weeks after Hockney’s death at the age of 88, prompting an outpouring of tributes from across the international art community. Throughout his career, Hockney became renowned for his vibrant paintings, portraits, landscapes, photography, and digital artworks, continually embracing new technologies while remaining deeply committed to the act of observation. His California swimming pools, expansive Yorkshire landscapes, and later iPad drawings remain among the most recognizable works in contemporary art.

The choice of memorial locations mirrors Hockney’s remarkable international career. From his early years in Bradford to his celebrated time in Los Angeles and his later life in France, each place played an important role in shaping an artist whose influence extended far beyond Britain. The upcoming public memorials will celebrate not only Hockney’s extraordinary artistic achievements but also the lasting impact he had on generations of artists and audiences around the world.

Sources: David Hockney Inc.

Serpentine Galleries Unveils Jesús Rafael Soto’s First Outdoor Sculpture in the U.K.

Serpentine Galleries has unveiled the first outdoor presentation of a sculpture by Venezuelan artist Jesús Rafael Soto in the United Kingdom. Installed in Kensington Gardens near Serpentine South, Pénétrable BBL Jaune (1999; 2023 Edition) forms part of the institution’s summer program and invites visitors to experience art through movement, interaction, and perception.

Originally conceived by Soto in 1999 and reissued by the artist’s estate in 2023 to mark the centenary of his birth, the installation consists of 4,000 suspended yellow PVC strands hanging from a large steel framework. Rather than simply viewing the artwork from a distance, visitors are encouraged to walk through it, where shifting light, movement, and perspective create an ever-changing visual experience. The work belongs to Soto’s celebrated Pénétrables series, which redefined the relationship between artwork, space, and audience by transforming viewers into active participants.

A pioneer of kinetic art, Soto moved from Venezuela to Paris in 1950, where he became one of the leading figures exploring movement, optical perception, and abstraction. His work challenged conventional ideas of sculpture by emphasizing space, light, and the viewer’s physical presence rather than static forms. Throughout his career, he collaborated with artists who helped shape the international kinetic art movement, establishing a lasting influence on contemporary installation and experiential art.

The installation also coincides with the 25th edition of the Serpentine Pavilion and continues the gallery’s long-standing commitment to bringing contemporary art into public spaces. Alongside existing outdoor works by Giuseppe Penone and David Hockney, Soto’s immersive sculpture offers visitors another opportunity to engage with art beyond the traditional gallery setting.

Sources: Artsy, Serpentine Galleries.

Iconic Video Artwork of Zinedine Zidane Heads to Los Angeles During FIFA World Cup 2026

One of contemporary art’s most celebrated video installations is returning to the spotlight as Gagosian presents Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait (2006) in Los Angeles during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Created by artists Douglas Gordon and Philippe Parreno, the landmark work forms the centerpiece of the exhibition Magic is sometimes very close to nothing at all, opening next month in Beverly Hills as the city prepares to host several World Cup matches.

Originally released in 2006, Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait offers a strikingly different perspective on football. Rather than following the action of the match, the film focuses entirely on legendary French footballer Zinedine Zidane during a single Real Madrid game played in Madrid in 2005. Using 17 synchronized cameras positioned throughout the stadium, the artists capture Zidane’s movements, expressions, moments of anticipation, and quiet pauses, transforming a sporting event into an intimate cinematic portrait. Accompanied by stadium sounds and an original soundtrack by Scottish post-rock band Mogwai, the work explores themes of performance, identity, presence, and human emotion.

Widely regarded as a milestone in contemporary video art, the installation exists in just 17 editions and is held in major museum collections, including the National Galleries of Scotland and the National Gallery of Canada. During the FIFA World Cup, the work is also being shown at institutions across New York, Miami, and Minneapolis, reflecting renewed interest in the intersection of art, sport, and popular culture.

The Los Angeles exhibition also includes a selection of Gordon’s text-based and neon works, several of which have been adapted into languages widely spoken throughout the city. Together, the presentation celebrates not only an iconic artwork but also the enduring dialogue between contemporary art and one of the world’s most beloved sports.

Sources: Gagosian.

These latest developments showcase the many ways art continues to inspire, commemorate, and bring people together across the world. Whether celebrating emerging talent, honoring influential artists, unveiling ambitious public projects, or exploring the intersection of art and global events like the FIFA World Cup, museums, galleries, and artists continue to expand how audiences experience creativity. As institutions invest in new spaces and groundbreaking exhibitions while preserving artistic legacies, the global art world remains as dynamic, accessible, and interconnected as ever.

For another thoughtful read, explore our feature Find Beauty in Doing Nothing, where we look at how artists have long embraced stillness, daydreaming, and quiet moments as powerful sources of creativity and inspiration.