David Hockney: Beneath the Surface

Wed 1 July - Wed 30 September

MODO

This summer, MODO presents David Hockney: Beneath the Surface, an immersive exhibition celebrating one of Britain's most influential artists through his iconic swimming pool images and his lifelong exploration of perception, perspective, and the act of seeing.



Running from 1 July to 31 August 2026, the exhibition places Hockney's celebrated pool works at the centre of an immersive gallery experience, inviting visitors to look beyond these familiar images and discover the ideas that shaped his extraordinary career. Alongside a panoramic installation from The Arrival of Spring in Normandy, visitors journey through immersive spaces inspired by Hockney's world, including the Pool Room and a dedicated Media Room presenting In Memoriam, a short film reflecting on his enduring artistic legacy.

Rather than a traditional retrospective, Beneath the Surface explores Hockney's enduring curiosity about how we experience the world.



The exhibition invites audiences to slow down, look more closely and experience Hockney's work in an environment that reflects his belief that seeing is an active, creative process.



Throughout July, the exhibition operated as a ticketed event, with 100% of ticket proceeds donated to Art & Culture Education CIC (ACE CIC) to support its mission of championing creativity and the importance of arts education. From 4–31 August, admission is free, with visitors warmly encouraged to make a voluntary donation to the charity on arrival.

As MODO is a commercial gallery, many of the original works have now been acquired by collectors and will gradually leave the exhibition for delivery. While the display of original artworks will continue to evolve, visitors can still experience the immersive installations, including the Pool Room, In Memoriam and The Arrival of Spring in Normandy.

Following its Cambridge presentation, David Hockney: Beneath the Surface will relocate to MODO's London gallery in Piccadilly Arcade from September 2026.

"David Hockney spent a lifetime encouraging us to look more closely at the world around us. Beneath the Surface is an invitation to do exactly that. We hope visitors leave not only having enjoyed the work but having discovered something new in the act of looking itself."

— Sally Clark, The Hockney Gallery Ltd (MODO / Pentimento / Art & Culture Education CIC)

For enquiries, please contact now@modoart.co.uk.

Cost: £27.80