Expired driver's licence spurred one of 20th century's most prolific art series

An expired driver's licence propelled British-born Los Angeles native David Hockney into one of the 20th century's most prolific art series. Stuck in New York with the invalid ID, Hockney delved into colour experimentation at the printmaker Kenneth Tyler's studio, where he stayed for 49 days in 1963. The National Gallery of Australia (NGA) has recently unearthed a trove of Hockney's earlier works, spanning his time at the Royal College of Art to his initial months in Los Angeles.

The exhibition showcases Hockney's pivotal collaboration with Tyler and highlights his signature style, which evolved from traditional mediums such as etching, lithography, and photography to experimental tools like mylar sheets and fax machines. The show features intimate portraits of past lovers, family, and friends from the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, as well as iPad self-portraits created by the artist in his 80s.

Hockney drew inspiration from the faces around him, particularly British fashion designer Celia Birtwell, and later from his artistic predecessors like Picasso. The exhibition also includes Hockney's semi-autobiographical series "A Rake's Progress," a humorous reinterpretation of William Hogarth's 18th-century moral narrative, reflecting his identity as a gay man in a time when homosexuality was still illegal in Britain.