Howard Hodgkin

Howard Hodgkin (1932–2017) was a British painter known for his richly expressive, abstracted paintings that pushed the boundaries of traditional figuration. Though often classified as an abstract artist, Hodgkin considered himself a representational painter, describing his works as 'representations of emotional situations'. His vibrant compositions, typically painted in oil on wooden panels — often extending over the frame — evoke memories, places and encounters with a sensuous intensity.

Born in London, Hodgkin studied at Camberwell School of Art and later at the Bath Academy of Art in Corsham. By the 1960s, he had developed a distinctive visual language marked by bold colour, gestural brushwork and an acute sensitivity to the emotional resonance of painting. His approach was deeply rooted in personal experience, but filtered through a process of prolonged contemplation and revision; many of his works were reworked over years, the final image concealing numerous earlier iterations.

Hodgkin’s paintings often carry evocative titles — Rain, In the Bay of Naples, Don't Tell a Soul — offering glimpses into their narrative inspiration while resisting literal interpretation. He drew from a wide range of sources, including Indian miniatures, Renaissance painting and modernist abstraction, yet his work remained unmistakably individual.

He represented Britain at the Venice Biennale in 1984 and won the Turner Prize in 1985. A major retrospective was held at Tate Britain in 2006. Hodgkin was knighted in 1992 and made a Companion of Honour in 2003. His work is held in leading international collections, including the Tate, MoMA, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the British Council.