Artist Focus: New David Hockney Exhibition to Open at Serpentine North in London

A new exhibition by the celebrated British artist David Hockney will open at London Serpentine’s Serpentine North Gallery on 12 March 2026, presenting new paintings alongside the artist’s monumental frieze A Year in Normandie. The exhibition, titled A Year in Normandie and Some Other Thoughts about Painting, will run until 23 August 2026 and marks Hockney’s first presentation at the Serpentine. Admission will be free.

David Hockney, London 2023
(Image credit: © David Hockney Photo Credit: Jean-Pierre Gonçalves de Lima)

The show follows the artist’s major retrospective at Fondation Louis Vuitton in 2025, which featured more than 400 works spanning seven decades of his career. In contrast, the Serpentine exhibition offers a more intimate view of Hockney’s recent practice.

“David Hockney’s work invites us to look closely and rediscover the world around us,” said Bettina Korek, chief executiove of the Serpentine, adding that the gallery was pleased to present the works free of charge in the park setting.

At the centre of the exhibition will be A Year in Normandie (2020–2021), a panoramic frieze being shown in London for the first time. 

David Hockney: A Year in Normandie and Some Other Thoughts about Painting, installation view, Serpentine North, 2026 © David Hockney. Photo: George Darrell

Extending around the perimeter gallery, the work charts the changing seasons around Hockney’s former studio in Normandy, France. Created during the spring of 2020, when global lockdowns brought much of the world to a halt, the piece comprises more than 100 digital paintings produced on an iPad. Working quickly and intuitively, Hockney captured shifts in light, weather and landscape across the year.

David Hockney: A Year in Normandie and Some Other Thoughts about Painting, installation view, Serpentine North, 2026 © David Hockney. Photo: George Darrell

The format of the work draws inspiration from Chinese scroll painting as well as the eleventh-century Bayeux Tapestry. The resulting compositions combine broad areas of bold colour with playful, pop-like details as spring gives way to summer, autumn and winter.

David Hockney, Abstraction Resting on a Red and White Checkered Tablecloth, 2025. (Image credit: © David Hockney. Photo: Prudence Cuming)

Alongside the frieze, the exhibition will debut a new body of paintings created for the Serpentine. The series includes five still lifes and five portraits depicting members of Hockney’s close circle, including family members and carers. Each painting is arranged with a frontal composition and incorporates a recurring gingham tablecloth motif.

In these works Hockney merges abstract and figurative approaches. The artist has long argued that figurative painting is inherently abstract, as it exists on a flat surface. A large-scale mural by Hockney will also be installed in the garden at Serpentine North. The printed work depicts a tree house from the spring section of A Year in Normandie and will be displayed at the rear of the gallery, echoing its origin in the artist’s own garden in Normandy.

“I have always believed that art should be a deep pleasure,” Hockney said in a statement. “There is always, everywhere, an enormous amount of suffering, but I believe that my duty as an artist is to overcome and alleviate the sterility of despair. New ways of seeing mean new ways of feeling. I do believe that painting can change the world.”

Hans Ulrich Obrist, the Serpentine’s artistic director and curator of the exhibition alongside Claude Adjil, said Hockney continues to experiment with painting at the age of 88.  He noted that the new portraits explore both the presence of the sitters and the act of seeing itself, while the frieze offers a personal reflection on the passage of time.

A catalogue designed by Hockney will accompany the exhibition, published by Serpentine and Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther und Franz König. The publication will include essays by Marco Livingstone and Olivia Laing, as well as a conversation between Hockney and Obrist.

Separately, the artist will unveil a new commission at Turner Contemporary in Margate on 1 April 2026. Created to mark the gallery’s 15th anniversary, the work will transform the Sunley Gallery’s floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the North Sea, measuring approximately seven by ten metres.

A Year in Normandie and Some Other Thoughts about Painting - Serpentine North Gallery - 12 March - 23 August 2026     Admission Free

Images courtesy of  The Serpentine, London

Upcoming Events - Paris: Galerie Dior and Azzedine Alaïa Foundation Announce Joint Exhibition

Galerie Dior and the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation are set to stage a rare dual exhibition in Paris, spotlighting the late couturier’s role as a collector and admirer of Christian Dior.

According to recent press reports, more than 100 pieces from Alaïa’s extensive archive — which numbers around 600 garments — will go on display at La Galerie Dior, many for the first time. These works are intended to highlight Alaïa’s deep appreciation for Dior and his successors.

In parallel, the Alaïa Foundation will present around 30 Dior creations collected by Alaïa alongside a comparable number of Alaïa’s own designs, creating a dialogue between the two fashion houses.

The exhibitions will be curated by Olivier Saillard with Gaël Mamine.

La Galerie Dior will host its show from 20 November 2025 to 3 May 2026, while the Alaïa Foundation will present its counterpart from 1 December 2025 to 3 May 2026.

The collaboration represents an unprecedented opportunity to explore Alaïa’s vision as both a designer and collector. The information is based on recent press reports from fashion media outlets.

Alaïa’s fashion archive comprises around 600 pieces, primarily by Christian Dior himself, but also by his successors – Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, and John Galliano. 

Copenhagen Fashion Week: Caro Editions Delivers a Love Letter With SS26 Show “Under the Bridge” - Featuring a Collaboration with Mulberry

Beneath the steel beams and cobblestones of Knippelsbro (Knippel Bridge in English) - a place steeped in personal history - Caro Editions unveiled its Spring/Summer 2026 collection with a show that was equal parts fashion, memory, and poetic resistance.

Caro Editios designer and founder Caroline Bille Brahe flanked by two of her models.
Copenhagen Fashion Week Photo by James Cochrane

Titled “Under the Bridge,” the presentation held on August 4 - day one of Copenhagen Fashion Week, marked a deeply intimate return for designers Caroline and Frederik Bille Brahe, who were married in this very spot. Years later, the bridge now served as the emotional and symbolic foundation for a show that explored the intersection of romance, public space, and soft rebellion.

In a raw, urban setting beneath one of Copenhagen’s busiest thoroughfares, Caro Editions built a dreamscape of tenderness and texture. Flowing silk dresses, hand-embroidered garments, and veiled silhouettes evoked memories of bridalwear, while simultaneously subverting traditional tropes. The bride here was not bound to convention — she was a symbol of visibility, activism, and individuality, inspired in part by Yoko Ono’s Brides on Tour.

“There’s lots of black, a first for me,” said Caroline Bille Brahe. “But also glorious colours and contrasts. I was thinking about wedding guests of all kinds — different ages, sizes, styles. Rich silks in workwear shapes. Comfortable, glamorous, real.”

One of the most talked-about moments was the finale: a bride in a lace hoodie, a silk windbreaker, and custom Crocs — Caro’s idea of a down-to-earth muse, ready to dance all night. This wasn’t a traditional wedding procession. It was a playful yet profound meditation on the joy of showing up — as yourself, in full colour.

Soundtracking the show was a custom composition by Frederik Valentin. His mix of punk and pop created a sonic collage, echoing the show’s nostalgic thread — a fragmented love story slowly unfolding into something melodic, emotional, even euphoric.

This season also saw a standout collaboration with British heritage brand Mulberry. In a celebration of reuse and reimagination, Caroline reworked vintage Mulberry bags into eight one-of-a-kind designs — adorned with Caro’s signature silk bows, embroidery, and contrasting linings. “In my generation, if your mother had a Mulberry bag, you were lucky,” Caroline recalled. “Now I’ve made my own — with the lining on the outside instead of hidden. It’s all about turning memory inside out.”

Founded in 2022, Caro Editions has quickly built a reputation for blending romantic nostalgia with modern ease. Often working with deadstock fabrics from Chanel, Dries Van Noten, and Harris Tweed, the label champions craft, sustainability, and individuality — always with a playful twist.

“I resist the idea of the Caro girl,” said Caroline. “I don’t want to put anyone in a box. I want people to fall in love with a piece of our world and make it their own. That’s the essence of Caro Editions.”

With Under the Bridge, the brand didn’t just deliver a fashion show — it delivered a love letter. To Copenhagen. To memory. To presence. And above all, to the quiet power of showing up — together.

All photos by James Cochrane, at Copenhagen Fashion Week SS26 edition. 

Wool Event: Campaign for Wool Celebrates 15 Years with Call to 'Check It's Wool'

The Campaign for Wool is marking its 15th anniversary this October with a renewed push to promote wool as a sustainable alternative to synthetic fibres. The global initiative, originally launched in 2010 by King Charles III—then the Prince of Wales—is using the milestone to urge consumers to “Check It’s Wool” when making textile purchases.

The campaign, which has grown to include over 1,000 companies worldwide across sectors such as farming, fashion, interior design and manufacturing, continues to advocate for wool as one of nature’s most versatile and eco-conscious fibres.

“As we mark this milestone, our mission remains more relevant than ever,” said Peter Ackroyd, Chairman of the Campaign for Wool. “Wool is not only natural, renewable and biodegradable—the simple act of choosing wool can help reduce our impact on the planet. It breaks down in soil and water without releasing harmful microplastics.”

Wool’s appeal lies not just in its natural credentials, but also in its remarkable versatility. As a trans-seasonal material, it provides thermal regulation—keeping wearers warm in winter and cool in summer—making it an ideal choice for year-round fashion. In interiors, wool’s insulating properties help regulate indoor temperatures, offering energy-saving benefits while contributing to comfort and wellbeing. Its inherent breathability, durability, and resistance to odours further enhance its value across everyday applications.

From finely spun merino garments to robust upholstery and elegant rugs, wool continues to redefine modern luxury with a conscience. It is entirely renewable, with sheep producing a new fleece every year, and fully biodegradable, returning safely to the earth without leaving behind microplastic waste. As consumer awareness grows around the environmental cost of fast fashion and synthetic materials, wool offers a practical, planet-friendly alternative that supports both sustainable design and responsible consumption.

The anniversary will be marked by a wide-ranging programme of events across the UK and abroad. These include educational showcases, artisan-led workshops, interactive installations, and pop-up retail spaces designed to highlight wool’s role in circular design, marine safety, soil health, and sustainable living.

British brands taking part in the campaign include Vivienne Westwood, Gieves & Hawkes, Brora, Johnstons of Elgin, Amy Powney, and Finisterre, among others. Their involvement reflects the continued relevance of wool in modern fashion and design.

Founded as a not-for-profit initiative, the Campaign for Wool aims to raise awareness about the environmental benefits of wool and its wide-ranging uses. King Charles has long advocated for the fibre’s unique technical and ecological advantages, describing it as a sustainable solution in both fashion and home interiors.

More information about the campaign and its upcoming events can be found on campaignforwool.org and at @campaignforwool.

Images courtesy of Campaign for Wool