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David Hockney Red Celia For Sale
David Hockney
Red Celia, 1984
Lithograph 4 aluminum platesSigned and numbered in pencil lower right/left.
29 7/8 x 21 5/8 in76 x 55 cm
Edition
Edition of 82
About this work
Red Celia is one of David Hockney’s most arresting portraits — an image that feels at once immediate and emotionally charged. The figure of Celia Birtwell, Hockney’s longtime friend and muse, is presented not as a distant subject but as a living presence. Her pose is relaxed yet expressive, hands resting in her hair, as though caught in a fleeting, unguarded moment.The portrait is dominated by an enveloping red — a colour that transforms the composition into something far more than likeness. It heightens the intimacy of the image, saturating the space with warmth and intensity. Rather than modelling the figure through conventional light and shadow, Hockney allows line and colour to carry the emotion. The sweeping strokes feel spontaneous, almost improvisational, giving the portrait a palpable energy.There is a sense that we are not simply looking at Celia, but experiencing the way Hockney sees her. The contours shift subtly, the space around her vibrates, and the composition seems alive with movement. It reflects the artist’s ongoing fascination during this period with perception — how memory, feeling, and time shape what we see.In Red Celia, portraiture becomes an act of closeness. The work is bold, confident, and deeply personal, capturing not just a face but a relationship. It stands as a testament to Hockney’s ability to merge friendship and formal experimentation into something visually striking and emotionally resonant.
Price on Application
Auction History
"Red Celia" from: "Moving Focus". · David Hockney · Bukowskis · 2025-10 · $47,865
Red Celia · David Hockney · Freeman's · 2022-05 · $40,950
Red Celia, from Moving Focus · David Hockney · Christie's · 2010-04 · $40,000
RED CELIA (T. 273: DH60) · David Hockney · Sotheby's · 2012-11 · $37,500
Red Celia · David Hockney · Christie's · 2021-09 · $33,750
More from this series
More series by David Hockney
About the Celia Series
David Hockney Celia Prints For Sale
David Hockney's portraits of Celia Birtwell represent some of the most intimate and technically accomplished works in the artist's celebrated oeuvre. Created during the 1970s, these portraits capture the designer and muse who became one of Hockney's most frequent subjects, her image synonymous with the artist's exploration of portraiture as psychological study. The 1973 "Celia" exemplifies Hockney's masterful command of lithography and his ability to distill personality into essential lines and forms. These works stand as testaments to both artistic friendship and Hockney's evolution beyond his earlier Pop Art associations into a more nuanced, observational practice.
The technical virtuosity displayed in the Celia series showcases Hockney's unparalleled skill with the lithographic medium. Working with master printers, Hockney achieved remarkable subtlety in line weight and tonal variation, creating portraits that feel both immediate and timeless. The 1973 edition demonstrates his ability to capture Birtwell's distinctive features—her contemplative gaze, elegant bone structure, and characteristic composure—with economy of means. This restraint paradoxically intensifies the emotional resonance, making these portraits among the most sought-after examples of 20th-century British printmaking.
From a market perspective, Hockney's Celia portraits occupy a prestigious position within the artist's print production. As Hockney has ascended to become one of the world's most valuable living artists—with paintings achieving record-breaking auction results—his prints have experienced corresponding appreciation, particularly iconic subjects like Celia Birtwell. These works appeal to collectors seeking museum-quality examples of Hockney's figurative work at a more accessible entry point than his paintings, while still offering significant aesthetic and investment value. The combination of art historical importance, technical excellence, and the compelling personal narrative between artist and subject ensures sustained collector interest.
The Celia series remains essential for serious collectors building comprehensive Hockney holdings or assembling distinguished print collections focused on post-war British art. These portraits represent the intersection of technical mastery and emotional authenticity that defines Hockney's greatest achievements.
Guy Hepner | Exclusive source for museum-quality David Hockney prints and editions.
About David Hockney
David Hockney prints for sale at Guy Hepner include works from his most collected series: the Swimming Pool lithographs, Blue Guitar, Paper Pools, Moving Focus, Celia, and the Yosemite Suite. David Hockney signed prints for sale and David Hockney original art for sale through our New York gallery are sourced from authenticated secondary market collections with full provenance documentation.
David Hockney (9 July 1937 – 11 June 2026) was the most celebrated British artist of his generation and one of the most actively traded names on the international secondary market. His luminous paintings, prints, and drawings — spanning swimming pools, landscapes, portraits, and iPad works — defined visual culture for over six decades and continue to command record prices at auction.
David Hockney Art For Sale
David Hockney art for sale encompasses a remarkably diverse body of work, from early etchings and lithographs to large-scale paintings and his celebrated digital iPad drawings. Hockney's position as the most valuable British artist was confirmed in November 2018 when Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) (1972) sold for US$90.3 million at Christie's New York — setting a world auction record for a living artist at the time.
At Guy Hepner, David Hockney paintings for sale and prints are sourced directly from galleries, estates, and private collections with full provenance documentation.
David Hockney Prints For Sale
David Hockney prints for sale represent the most accessible and liquid category of his market. His lithographs, etchings, and screenprints — produced across six decades — are sought by collectors at every level. Signed editions are particularly valued for their documentary connection to Hockney's creative process.
Key series available at Guy Hepner:
- Swimming Pool series — the definitive Hockney motif; pool paintings and prints in every medium remain among his most sought works
- Weather Series — a landmark suite of lithographs exploring atmospheric and meteorological themes with Hockney's signature graphic clarity
- Hollywood Hills — sun-drenched landscapes celebrating California's light, space, and architecture
- Moving Focus — a major series of lithographs and prints exploring perspective, travel, and the act of looking
- Pools lithographs — intimate, technically virtuosic prints that distil the essence of his Swimming Pool paintings
- iPad drawings — Hockney's pioneering digital works, printed as archival pigment prints, representing a bold late chapter in his practice
David Hockney: Most Collectible Series
Hockney is the most actively traded British artist on the secondary market, with consistent demand across painting, print, drawing, and photography. For collectors seeking to buy David Hockney, the prints market offers the greatest volume and liquidity.
Collectors who buy David Hockney should consider:
- Signed vs unsigned editions — signed impressions command a substantial premium and are preferred by institutions
- Early vs late editions — earlier impressions from small editions tend to appreciate faster
- Subject matter — pool paintings, portraits, and California landscapes are his canonical themes and attract the broadest collector base
- Condition — works on paper are sensitive to light; always request condition reports and storage history
Hockney's enduring legacy, global institutional profile, and the exceptional breadth of his output make David Hockney prints for sale a compelling proposition at all market levels.
Buying David Hockney
Guy Hepner has extensive experience placing David Hockney art for sale with private collectors and institutional buyers. Our inventory includes rare signed prints, lithographs from major series, and occasional works on paper and canvas sourced through trusted networks.
When you buy David Hockney through Guy Hepner, every work comes with full provenance documentation, condition reporting, and certificate of authenticity. We can also assist with private sales, valuations, and estate acquisitions.
Contact us to discuss available David Hockney paintings for sale, current print inventory, and collector advisory services.