David Hockney's exhibition A Year in Normandie and Some Other Thoughts about Painting at Serpentine North in London drew about 300,000 visitors, setting a new attendance record for the gallery and becoming its most visited show in 56 years.
Presented with free admission from March 12 to August 23, the exhibition marked Hockney's first appearance at the Serpentine. A large printed mural installed in the garden will remain on view until September 20, extending the project's public reach beyond the gallery space.
The presentation brought together new paintings, including five still lifes and portraits, with the 300-foot frieze A Year in Normandie created in 2020-21. Serpentine CEO Bettina Korek said the exhibition encouraged visitors to slow down, look closely, and build a renewed connection with art in an open setting.
Hockney described painting as a source of pleasure and a way to transform how people see and feel. His exhibition's strong response highlights the enduring power of accessible art experiences, and it may help shape more open, audience-focused cultural programming in the future.
