David Hockney’s Top Print Sales

1. Location: New York
2. Auction House: Sotheby’s
3. Date: 13 May 2021
4. Sales Value USD: 767,023
5. Number of Occurrences at Auction: 1

Hockney’s Home-Made Prints series stands as a testament to his constant experimentation with printmaking. Created in 1986, this suite of 20 prints was produced using a colour laser copier - a bold departure from traditional intaglio and lithographic processes of his earlier career. Each Xerox print captures Hockney’s characteristic vibrant palette, depicting still-life compositions, scenes of the artist’s home in California, and more whimsical and surreal works like Celia With Chair and Self Portrait.

This complete set achieved a monumental $767,023 at Sotheby’s New York in 2021, in its first and only sale, reflecting the increasing value of cohesive print collections - a pattern we have also observed in Andy Warhol’s print market. The rarity of full sets such as this, particularly those in pristine condition, makes them particularly anticipated by Hockney collectors.

1. Location: London
2. Auction House: Phillips
3. Date: 3 March 2022
4. Sales Value USD: 522,509
5. Number of Occurrences at Auction: 1

Part of Hockney’s Arrival Of Spring series, this work is Hockney’s highest-achieving singular print. Created on an iPad and printed on paper, The Arrival Of Spring In Woldgate East Yorkshire 4th May 2011 radiates luminous greens, vibrant yellows, and dappled sunlight, capturing the renewal of life in the Yorkshire countryside.

This particular edition from the series sold for $522,509 at Phillips in London in 2022, marking a significant moment for Hockney’s digital prints at auction. The Arrival Of Spring prints, inspired by the shifting landscapes of East Yorkshire as the seasons change, have consistently performed well, reflecting the market’s enthusiasm for Hockney’s embrace of modern technology in traditional print formats.

1. Location: New York
2. Auction House: Christie’s
3. Date: 19 April 2023
4. Sales Value USD: 429,928
5. Number of Occurrences at Auction: 2

A pivotal early print series, A Rake’s Progress (1961-63) was inspired by William Hogarth’s 18th century narrative paintings. The suite of 16 etchings charts a semi-autobiographical journey of a young man - loosely based on Hockney’s experiences in New York in the 1960s.

Achieving $429,928 at Christie’s in 2023, the market has repeatedly recognised the significance of this series in Hockney’s career, with individual prints from the series performing particularly well throughout 2024. Its conceptual depth, coupled with its rarity as a complete set, makes it one of the most important collections in Hockney’s oeuvre.

1. Location: London
2. Auction House: Phillips
3. Date: 27 June 2024
4. Sales Value USD: 406,560
5. Number of Occurrences at Auction: 1

Another standout from The Arrival Of Spring series, this print showcases the artist’s fascination with the changing seasons. This inviting composition, with its sweeping country road and rich interplay of colour, exemplifies Hockney’s ability to translate movement and atmosphere into the digital, two-dimensional medium of print. Fetching $406,560 at Phillips in 2024, the sale speaks to the market prevalence of Hockney’s digital works.

Hockney’s swimming pool imagery remains some of his most celebrated and, indeed, sought after works. Afternoon Swimming (1980) captures the serene yet dynamic play of light and water, a hallmark of his California years. Selling for $394,813 at Christie’s in 2021, this print underscores the enduring appeal of Hockney’s poolside works, a quintessential theme from his broader practice that has seen equal market success for his large-scale paintings.

1. Location: London
2. Auction House: Phillips
3. Date: 14 June 2021
4. Sales Value USD: 340,681
5. Number of Occurrences at Auction: 1

A Bigger Green Valley is another of Hockney’s iPad Drawings, with photo-realistic lush trees in the foreground which line a winding road that recedes to the background of the composition. Part of his ongoing engagement with the East Yorkshire landscape, this setting continues to inspire Hockney to this date.

Sold for $340,681 at Phillips in 2021, this print underscores the sheer market demand for Hockney’s newer, digital works. His iPad Drawings, known for their immediacy and diaristic quality, have increasingly rivalled his earlier print techniques in market value - speaking to collectors’ embrace of Hockney’s innovation.

1. Location: London
2. Auction House: Phillips
3. Date: 19 September 2024
4. Sales Value USD: 330,403
5. Number of Occurrences at Auction: 2

A departure from his landscapes, Dog Wall (1998) is a charming and intimate series that captures Hockney’s beloved dachshunds, Stanley and Boodgie. This complete set of 15 lithographs showcases Hockney’s delicate linework and keen observation, with depictions of his dogs in various relaxed poses - sleeping, stretching, or simply gazing at the viewer.

Selling for $330,403 at Phillips in 2024, this result reflects the appeal of Hockney’s more personal subjects. This sale was only the second instance in which the entire set has sold together, while individual lithographs from the series consistently perform well at auction.

Yet another standout from The Arrival Of Spring series, this print from 30th May 2011 presents a lush scene of a road shrouded by a tunnel of foliage, with a horse riding sign to the left of the composition - a sign of human touch in this wild scene. Fetching $325,984 at Phillips in 2023, this sale reaffirms the enduring strength of this digital series at auction. These prints, known for their rich palette and immersive compositions, continue to engage collectors as snapshots into the everyday life of the artist.

Hockney’s Yosemite Suite is a vivid exploration of one of America’s most celebrated national parks. Yosemite II, October 16th 2011 captures the grandeur of a towering cliff face, bathed in warm autumnal light. Hockney’s bold use of colour and expansive composition convey the sheer scale and drama of Yosemite’s landscape, all while retaining his signature playfulness with form and perspective.

Selling for $318,672 at Sotheby’s in 2020, this print - once again - shows the market’s embrace of Hockney’s digital works. Other works from the series have consistently performed well at auction, though The Arrival Of Spring series remains the most coveted of his digital print series.

One of Hockney’s more unconventional print formats, Caribbean Tea Time is a four-panel screenprint designed as a folding paravent. Created in 1987, this work reflects Hockney’s fascination with decorative arts and his evolving depiction of sun-soaked environments. Achieving $300,337 at Christie’s in 2023, Caribbean Tea Time highlights the diversity of Hockney’s print output. Unlike other traditional framed works, this unique format adds a sculptural element, making it a distinctive work in his oeuvre.