2014

An exhibition of 22 new paintings opens at Gagosian Gallery, Paris, Hodgkin’s first solo show in the city. Works include Blue Door (2009-12), The Sea, Goa (2013), Indian Waves (2013-2014) and For Matisse (2011-2014). Hodgkin completed many of them in Mumbai, where he starts to keep a studio in the winter months. Watch video of the Gagosian exhibition.

Alan Cristea Gallery, Cork Street, London shows ‘Green Thoughts’, 19 new prints, including the hand-painted carborundum relief, For Alan (2014). Printed in seven colour variations, the work testifies to Hodgkin’s close working relationship with gallery owner and publisher Alan Cristea, which spans over 20 years. The show’s title Green Thoughts refers to a couplet in Andrew Marvell’s 17th-century poem The Garden, “Annihilating all that’s made To a green thought in a green shade”. Andrew Marr’s essay in the catalogue was reprinted in the Guardian, headed, ‘Howard Hodgkin: the witty, glittery Proust of painters’.

Hodgkin was the first artist to be given the Swarovski Whitechapel Gallery Art Icon award in 2014. The prize honours the lifetime achievement of one of Britain’s greatest artists. Hodgkin was chosen by a panel chaired by Iwona Blazwick, Director, Whitechapel Gallery, with Stephen Deuchar, Director, The Art Fund; Ann Gallagher, Head of Collections (British Art), Tate; and, Jackie Wullschlager, Chief Art Critic, The Financial Times. To present the award Hodgkin invited Martin Creed, who performed his song, ‘I’m feeling orange, I’m feeling pink’. Read more.

At the end of the year Hodgkin shows ‘Indian Waves’ at Gagosian Gallery, Davies Street, London, some thirty gouaches inspired by India, printed and painted by Hodgkin on hand-made khadi paper at the 107 Workshop, Wiltshire, England between 1990 and 1991. They were put aside and forgotten until the workshop closed.