First David Hockney painting sold at auction since artist’s death avoids ‘posthumous premium’
Published on 01/07/2026 - 12:24 GMT+2 A painting that quietly pivoted David Hockney’s legendary career has been sold at the first major auction since the artist died last...
Published on 01/07/2026 - 12:24 GMT+2
A painting that quietly pivoted David Hockney’s legendary career has been sold at the first major auction since the artist died last month.
"The Only One with Waves" (1991) fetched £2.42 million (approximately €2.79m) on 26 June at Phillips’ Modern & Contemporary Art sale in London.
Painted shortly after Hockney purchased his home in Malibu, California, the 91.4 x 122.0cm oil on canvas captures the ever-changing and ferocious movement of the Pacific Ocean.
It’s a standout piece from the artist’s earlier work, one that transitioned him away from the recognisable stillness of Los Angeles swimming pools as seen in "Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy" (1971) and "The Splash" (1967), as he headed towards abstraction.
"The Only One with Waves" was last sold in 2018 at Sotheby’s in New York for $2.17 million (approximately €1.9m). It has currently been traded just three times.
David Hockney’s work avoids ‘posthumous premium’
Abigail Hartmann Associates, which provides objective appraisals and consultations in fine and decorative arts, says interest in Hockney’s work has “accelerated dramatically” following his death – which made the recent auction one of the “most closely watched sales of the season”.
MyArtBroker reported a 1,200 per cent increase in sales and valuation enquiries for Hockney’s work in the 48 hours leading up to the auction.
Despite this, "The Only One with Waves" did not exceed its lot estimate, which was capped at £2.5 million (approximately €2.91m).
Contemporary art platform Ocula says this indicates that collectors are sticking to established values for the artist’s work, rather than “chasing a posthumous premium”.
Hockney’s legacy lives on
Hockney, who was born in Bradford, England, died aged 88 on 11 June. His representatives announced that he passed away peacefully at his home in London, just weeks before his 89th birthday.
Around the world, the painter’s legacy is still alive. In Saltaire Primary School, just a stone’s throw away from the Hockney 1853 Gallery and Hockney’s former school, children have decorated their classroom walls with paintings inspired by his work.
The school has also named two reception classes after Hockney, while the painter’s quote "To me, the world is rather beautiful if you look at it. Especially nature" hangs over the classroom door.
Hockney’s artwork remains scattered across major galleries around the world too, with the largest permanent collection located in Salts Mills – a gallery that proudly celebrates Hockney’s Bradford roots and cultural contribution to the North of England.
Following his death, his publicist confirmed that the majority of his privately-kept work will be given to foundations and public institutions.
Next year, a major Hockney exhibition at Tate Britain will take place, as will a multimedia installation of his opera sets in Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall.
