David Hockney RA: 82 Portraits and 1 Still Life , opening July 2 at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, brings together portraits painted in the 78-year-old's LA studio over the last two and a half years. While the 82 sitters differ greatly (especially the titular "Fruit on a Bench" still life), there are several recurring elements within the portraits. (CNN) This summer, seminal British pop artist David Hockney is offering the public an intimate look into his star-studded personal circle. A mix of friends, family, acquaintances and staff, his sitters include creative luminaries like architect Frank Gehry, artist John Baldessari, and gallerist Larry Gagosian, as well as his own siblings. Each canvas is the same size, depicting models sat on the same yellow chair against a plain, colored background; and each portrait was painted over three days in what Hockney calls "a 20 hour exposure."

Source: CNN June 29, 2016 08:37 UTC