Market Watch David Hockney: Top 10 Most Investable Prints

A Rake's Progress (1961–1963) is a series of 16 etchings where Hockney reimagines William Hogarth's 18th-century narrative with autobiographical elements. The series gained renewed attention in 2023, with a complete set selling at Christie’s in April for £435,482 (including fees), far surpassing its previous record of £15,625 and marking Hockney's top print sale of the year. In 2024, another set achieved £254,000 at Phillips' David Hockney Only sale, underscoring the continued demand and value growth of this iconic series.

Hockney's Arrival of Spring works were less prevalent on the market in 2024, though this does not suggest a decline in value. Their value has long been established across both the primary and secondary markets. Market trends in 2024 indicate that the reduced availability likely reflects collectors holding onto these works, waiting for more favorable selling conditions.

Produced in editions of 25, with a few rarer editions of 10, The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire, 2nd June 2011 appeared at Phillips' June evening sale, achieving a strong result of £406,400.

In January 2023, Hockney's Dog Wall (Complete Set) (1987) achieved £327,600 (including fees) at Phillips, marking his second-highest sale of the year and setting an auction record. Building on this momentum, the set proved its enduring appeal again in 2024, selling for £317,500 at Phillips' dedicated David Hockney sale.

Both results place this complete set among Hockney's highest-valued prints and represent a remarkable 3.6-fold increase in value over an eight-year period since its last appearance in November 2015. Complete sets from American Pop artists have seen a surge in interest, often reaching prices comparable to original works. In Hockney's case, complete sets are exceptionally rare, further enhancing their desirability and value.

Caribbean Tea Time (1987) is a notable piece from Hockney's Interiors and Exteriors series from the 1980s. What sets these works apart is the absence of a sitter; instead, the focus is on the intimate interplay between interior and exterior spaces. This particular artwork features vibrant colours in an abstract cubist format and is presented on a folding screen. Rare to the market, this work resurfaced in May 2023, fetching £303,305 (with fees). In a previous sale in 2021, it sold for £94,302 (with fees), marking a significant increase of 3.2 times in value. With six appearances in the secondary market, each sale has demonstrated a consistent uptrend, showcasing the enduring strength and resilience of Hockney's market influence.

The Arrival Of Spring In Woldgate East Yorkshire 6th May 2011 made headlines at Bonhams in April 2023, setting a record as the highest-selling piece from the series (as an edition of 25) and securing a spot among Hockney's top print sellers for 2023. It fetched £277,500 (with fees), marking its second appearance on the secondary market and an impressive 2.79 times increase in sales value since its initial sale in 2018.

Another standout from The Arrival of Spring series, The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire, 30th March 2011, was one of the few pieces to appear publicly in 2024. Sold at Christie’s in October for £252,428, this marked only its second auction appearance and set a new record for the work.

This result reflects a significant increase in value from its previous sale of £139,700 just one year earlier in October 2023, underscoring the rising demand and growing appreciation for these prints.

In The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire, 2nd January 2011, Hockney masterfully captures the serene beauty of a Yorkshire winter. The scene invites viewers to experience the crisp winter air along a lush pink road cutting through vibrant greenery. At the centre, a reflective puddle mirrors the surrounding trees and sunlight, evoking the damp stillness of the rainy season.

This print has appeared on the secondary market twice. It first sold for £77,500 (including fees) in 2018 and reappeared in September 2023, achieving £228,600 (including fees) - a nearly threefold increase in value.

In 2023, Hockney's The Weather Series (1973) - a collection of ten prints inspired by a trip to Japan - stood out as one of his rarer and more coveted series. That year, works from the collection experienced a resurgence, with both individual prints and complete sets achieving impressive results and trending in auction sales with consecutive record-breaking performances.

At Christie's in October 2023, the complete set from this series appeared for the first time in over a decade, fetching £228,651. In 2024, works from The Weather Series were notably scarcer at auctions, yet the value achieved by this complete set continues to rank among Hockney's highest-valued sales across 2023 and 2024, underscoring the significance of these prints.

Lithograph of Water Made of Lines, a Green Wash, and a Light Blue Wash (1980) is one of several lithographic pool prints from Hockney's Swimming Pools series. In these lithographic pool pieces, Hockney conveys the transparency of water, revealing the pool floor while animating the surface with dynamic, squiggly lines. This interplay blends the themes of water and weather - elements often present in Hockney's most sought-after works.

While these prints appeared frequently in public sales throughout 2023, their presence diminished slightly in 2024. However, like other works, this shift doesn’t necessarily indicate a decline in value but rather reflects a cautious market sentiment. This specific lithograph achieved £214,200 (including fees) in January 2023, setting a record price for a pool-themed work in this style.