Ahead of the Bayeux Tapestry going on display at the British Museum next year, a modern inspiration by David Hockney will open at the Serpentine Gallery.
A Year in Normandie (detail), 2020-2021, composite iPad painting (c) David Hockney
Hockney’s ninety-metre-long frieze, inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry, shows the change of seasons at the artist’s former studio in Normandy, will be the highlight of a wider exhibition of pandemic-era paintings by the artist.
During the pandemic, while in lockdown, the artist produced over a hundred images of the local landscape on his iPad within just a few weeks, and then continued through the first lockdown to capture the entire cycle of the year.
The exhibition will also feature Hockney’s recent works, including the celebrated Moon Room, which reflects his lifelong interest in the cycle of light and time passing. It will also feature digital paintings from his Sunrise body of work.
The exhibition will open in March 2026 and will be free to visit.
Tickets will need to be booked in advance and will be released closer to the date the exhibition opens.
Bettina Korek, CEO, and Hans Ulrich Obrist, Artistic Director, Serpentine said: “We are thrilled that David Hockney has accepted our invitation to present new works at Serpentine North in 2026. As a highlight of our Spring/Summer season, the exhibition promises to be a landmark cultural moment. Serpentine is free and open to all, and we look forward to welcoming audiences from near and far.”