In the Mood for Love: Hockney in London, 1960–1963 is a landmark exhibition running from 21 May to 18 July 2025 at Hazlitt Holland-Hibbert in St James’s, London.
This show offers a rare and focused look at David Hockney’s formative years as a student and emerging artist in London, a period that would shape his entire career. The exhibition brings together an exceptional collection of paintings, drawings, and prints made between 1960 and 1963, many of which have not been seen together since the 1960s.
These works, drawn from both public and private collections, provide a vivid snapshot of Hockney’s creative and personal awakening during his time at the Royal College of Art and just after.
A highlight of the exhibition is Hockney’s celebrated Love series, which includes bold, graffiti-like paintings such as The First Love Painting (1960) and Love Painting – Shame (1960). These works are notable for their raw energy and their open, sometimes defiant, exploration of sexuality and identity at a time when homosexuality was still illegal in Britain.
The exhibition traces Hockney’s rapid evolution from abstraction towards a more figurative and narrative style, showing how he drew inspiration from literary sources like C.P. Cavafy and Walt Whitman, as well as from the people around him.
Intimate portraits, such as The Cha Cha that was Danced in the Early Hours of 24 March 1961 (featuring his first crush, Peter Crutch), Life Painting for Myself (a portrait of his close friend and lover Mo McDermott), and The Salesman (depicting his first dealer, John Kasmin), reveal the personal connections that fuelled his art.
Curated by Louis Kasmin, grandson of John Kasmin, the exhibition benefits from unique access to works long held in private hands. It is accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue with essays by art historian Marco Livingstone and personal reflections from John Kasmin, offering fresh perspectives and deeper context.
This is the first major exhibition to focus exclusively on Hockney’s London years, making it a must-see for anyone interested in the roots of his artistic vision. The show not only documents Hockney’s early stylistic breakthroughs but also captures the spirit of a changing London, reflecting both the bohemian energy of the era and the artist’s fearless embrace of love and self-expression. For art lovers and Hockney fans alike, In the Mood for Love is a rare opportunity to experience the genesis of one of Britain’s most important artists.