The anticipated appointment with the Phillips auction in London on the upcoming June 26 promises to be extraordinary. An absolute masterpiece by David Hockney will lead the prestigious session. The work is titled The Only One with Waves and belongs to a crucial phase in the painter’s artistic journey.
Beyond the Californian Pools: The Pacific Ocean
Painted shortly after the artist’s move to Malibu, the painting marks a decisive stylistic turning point. In contrast to the controlled stillness of his famous pools, Hockney embraces the dynamism of the ocean here. Furthermore, the canvas fully expresses the constant fascination exerted by water as a mutable and energetic element.
This composition also reflects his contemporary experiences with theatrical scenography. The conception of space as a fluid and layered structure translates into waves with broad fields. Consequently, the artist simplifies the marine landscape into its essential traits, brilliantly balancing reality and pure imagination.
The Evolution of the Aquatic Element in Hockney’s Aesthetics
| Work | Year | Subject and Style |
| A Bigger Splash | 1967 | Sharp surface, controlled water, geometric stillness |
| The Only One with Waves | 1991 | Ocean dynamism, gestural strokes, fluid energy |
What Prospects for Contemporary Art Collecting?
However, the Phillips auction in London will not only host works by the British master but will also propose a lively transgenerational dialogue. The canvas represents the stylistic evolution matured from the Sixties to today. Compared to the rigor of A Bigger Splash at the start of his career, here the brushstroke becomes dense, rapid, and strongly expressive.
The summer auction has always been a perfect indicator of the health of the sector. The art market internationally shows signs of strong reactivity and attracts global capital. That said, specialists predict strong interest from both public institutions and private investors.
According to Olivia Thornton, the London appointment confirms the great momentum of the auction house following the recent triumphant sale in New York. The event will allow the admiration of historical masterpieces alongside new contemporary proposals. Overall, the selection highlights the visual richness and cultural depth of the global contemporary landscape.
The exhibition of the works is open to the public in the prestigious London galleries of the auction house at Berkeley Square. Collectors interested in participating in the Phillips auction in London will be able to compete for the lot on June 26 at 2:00 PM. This extraordinary sale promises to rewrite the peaks of the painter’s quotations.
As expert in digital marketing, Amelia began working in the fintech sector in 2014 after writing her thesis on Bitcoin technology. Previously author for several international crypto-related magazines and CMO at Eidoo. She is now the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Cryptonomist and Econique.
She is also a marketing teacher at Digital Coach in Milan and she published a book about NFTs for the Italian publishing house Mondadori, while she is also helping artists and company to entering in the sector. As advisor, Amelia is also involved in metaverse-related project such as The Nemesis and OVER.
 leads the London sale on June 26. From the pools to the ocean){kind=link}