David Hockney

15 Canvas Study of the Grand Canyon

Hockney has called the Grand Canyon “the biggest place you can look out over that has an edge.” The scale and composition of 15 Canvas Study of the Grand Canyon creates an immersive experience for the viewer that attempts to convey this sentiment.

This work is rooted in Hockney’s understanding of art history; the panoramic landscape refers to nineteenth century depictions of the American West, while the grid-like configuration evokes twentieth century minimalism.

The work also references the artist’s personal history, recalling vivid childhood dreams of adventure. Growing up gay in England, Hockney felt isolated, and he responded to Hollywood’s version of the American West as a place where outlaws and outsiders belonged.

The lonely vastness of the Grand Canyon may also allude to the tragedies of adulthood, symbolizing the emptiness that the artist felt after losing many friends to the devastation of AIDS.