Friends is an autobiographical collection of highly precise lithographic portraits depicting individuals close to the artist, offering an intimate glimpse into his life in Los Angeles during the 1970s. The series features single and double portraits of Hockney’s social circle, including art world figures and personal acquaintances. Notable sitters include the MoMA curator Henry Geldzahler, the writer Christopher Isherwood and his partner Don Bachardy, Hockney’s then-partner Gregory Evans, the fashion model Joe Macdonald, and the film director Billy Wilder.

 

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Introduction

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In 1976, David Hockney worked with Gemini G.E.L. on a series of lithographs Friends, highly precise portraits of Evans, the fashion model Joe Mac Donald, and American film director Billy Wilder, among others. Whether single or double portraits, the works in this series offer an insight into Hockney’s life when he was living in LA in the 70s. From illustrious MoMA curator Henry Geldzahler to the famous writer Christopher Isherwood, Hockney was friends with leading figures in the arts scene and yet these portraits convey an intimacy and ease that can be found in studies of the artist’s parents or lesser known companions.

The series is autobiographical and focuses on personal relationships. Hockney often stated his preference for painting and drawing people he knew and loved to capture something intimate about their personality. The portraits document the artist’s close relationships, capturing intimacy and offering a glimpse into his private world. Hockney included allusions to art history, such as to Ingres, Picasso, and Van Gogh, in his compositions, situating his modern portraits within a broader artistic tradition. The depiction of his circle, which included his lovers and members of the LGBTQ+ community in 1970s LA, was a subtle statement in a period when such themes were a bold artistic choice.

Gregory Evans Posing for his portrait

As with many of the artist’s portraits, the sitter is usually portrayed in an interior setting against a spare background which creates a contrast between the artifice of the composition and the naturalism of the figure. Here chairs and flowers are as carefully arranged as the sitters themselves, their position in space often determining the whole perspective. The style balances naturalism in the figures with the deliberate artifice of the composition, a hallmark of Hockney’s approach to portraiture.

The Friends series used lithography produced on Arches paper. Hockney drew directly onto the lithographic stone using a brush dipped in tusche (diluted lithographic ink) and lithographic crayon. Hockney aimed to recreate the spontaneity of his quick line drawings within the printmaking medium. The technique allowed for masterful use of line and tonal modeling, effectively capturing the essence and personality of the sitters with fine detail. The series was produced in collaboration with the legendary Gemini print studio in LA where Hockney worked closely with Kenneth Tyler to recreate the spontaneity of his line drawings in the lithographic medium. Unlike etching,  lithography results in a flatter image.

 

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Friends, 1976

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WORK IN PROGRESS

Joe MacDonald (SAC 175)

Gregory Evans (SAC 176)

Brooke Hopper (SAC 177)

Billy Wilder (SAC 180)

Henry Geldzahler with Hat (SAC 181)

Don Cribb (SAC 183)

Henry Seated with Tulips (SAC 187)

Henry at Table (SAC 188)

Henry Reading the Newspaper (SAC 197)

 

 

 

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2025 Auction Results

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Henry Seated with Tulips (SAC 187), 1976

Christie’s New-York: 23 October 2025
Estimated: USD 10,000 – 15,000
USD 15,240

DAVID HOCKNEY (B. 1937)
Henry Seated with Tulips (Scottish Arts Council 187; Gemini 737), 1976
From Friends Series
Lithograph in colors on Arches mould-made buff paper
Signed, dated and inscribed ‘for Don with love from David x’ in pencil
Numbered ‘SP IV’
A special proof, the edition was 90 plus 20 artist’s proofs

Henry at Table (SAC 188), 1976

Hermitage Fine Art: 21 October 2025
Estimated: EUR 10,000 – 12,000
EUR 10,000 (Hammer)
EUR 12,500 / USD 14,500

DAVID HOCKNEY
Henry at Table (SAC 188), 1976
From Friends
Lithograph on Arches wove paper
Signed in pencil, numbered and dated ‘32/96 David Hockney 76’
Published by Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles

Henry Geldzahler with Hat (SAC 181), 1976

Hermitage Fine Art: 21 October 2025
Estimated: EUR 6,000 – 7,000
EUR 6,000 (Hammer)
EUR 7,500 / USD 8,700

DAVID HOCKNEY (B. 1937)
Henry Geldzahler with Hat, 1976
From Friends
Lithograph on Arches paper
Signed, numbered and dated in pencil ‘66/76 David Hockney 76’
Published by Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles

Mo McDermott (SAC 178), 1976

Hermitage Fine Art: 21 October 2025
Estimated: EUR 7,000 – 8,000
EUR 7,000 (Hammer)
EUR 8,750 / USD 10,150

DAVID HOCKNEY (B. 1937)
Mo McDermott (SAC 178), 1976
From Friends
Lithograph on wove paper
Signed, numbered and dated in pencil ‘17/100 David Hockney 1976’
Published by Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles

Henry Reading The Newspaper (SAC 197), 1976

Hermitage Fine Art: 21 October 2025
Estimated: EUR 9,000 – 10,000
EUR 9,000 (Hammer)
EUR 11,250 / USD 13,050

DAVID HOCKNEY (B. 1937)
Henry reading newspaper (SAC 197), 1976
From Friends
Lithograph on wove paper
Signed in orange and numbered ‘49/71 David Hockney’ (lower left)
Published by Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles

Brooke Hopper (SAC 177), 1976

Hermitage Fine Art: 21 October 2025
Estimated: EUR 8,000 – 10,000
EUR 8,000 (Hammer)
EUR 10,000 / USD 11,600

DAVID HOCKNEY (B. 1937)
Brooke Hopper, 1976
(Scottish Arts Council 177 Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo 166; G. 713)
From Friends
Lithograph on Arches wove paper
Signed, numbered and dated in pencil ‘15/92 David Hockney 76’
Published by Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles, with their blindstamp

Billy Wilder (SAC 180), 1976

Hermitage Fine Art: 21 October 2025
Estimated: EUR 6,000 – 7,000
EUR 6,000 (Hammer)
EUR 7,500 / USD 8,700

DAVID HOCKNEY
Billy Wilder, 1976
(Gemini 715)
From Friends
Lithograph
Signed and numbered ‘24/43’
Published by Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles

Don Cribb (MCAT 171), 1976

 

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Joe MacDonald (SAC 175)

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Joe MacDonald
from Friends

Medium: Lithograph in colors on Arches Cover buff paper
Year: 1976
Sheet: 41 3/4 x 29 1/2 inches (106×75 cm)
Edition: 99
Artist’s Proofs: 20 AP
Printer: Serge Lozingot and Edward Henderson
Publisher: Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles
Literature: Gemini (XXX), Scottish Arts Council (175)

Signed, dated and numbered in pencil

Auction Results

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Sotheby’s London: 15 November 2023
Estimated: GBP 2,000 – 3,000
GBP 4,064

DAVID HOCKNEY (b. 1937)
Joe MacDonald (from Friends) (S.A.C. 175), 1976
Lithograph on Arches mould-made buff paper
Signed in blue crayon, dated and numbered 43/99

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Gregory Evans (SAC 176)

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Gregory Evans
from Friends

Medium: Lithograph in colors on Arches Cover buff paper
Year: 1976
Sheet: 41 1/2 x 29 3/4 inches (105.4 x 75.6 cm)
Edition: 90
Artist’s Proofs: 16 AP
Printer: Anthony Zepeda
Publisher: Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles
Literature: Gemini (712), Scottish Arts Council (176); Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (165)

Signed, dated and numbered in pencil

Auction Results

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Sotheby’s London: 15 November 2023
Estimated: GBP 2,000 – 3,000
GBP 1,524 / USD 1,905

DAVID HOCKNEY (b. 1937)
Gregory Evans (from Friends) (S.A.C. 176; MCA Tokyo 165), 1976
Lithograph on Arches wove paper
Signed in pencil, dated and numbered 16/90

Bonhams Los Angeles: 3 October 2023
Estimated: USD 3,000 – 5,000
USD 2,816

 

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Brooke Hopper (SAC 177)

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Brooke Hopper
from Friends

Medium: Lithograph on Arches paper
Year: 1976
Sheet: 38 x 27 7/8 inches (96.5 x 70.8 cm)
Edition: 92
Artist’s Proofs: 33 AP
Publisher: Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles
Literature: Scottish Arts Council (177); Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (166); Gemini (713)

Signed, dated and numbered in pencil
With the blindstamp and inkstamp of the publisher on the reverse

Auction Results

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Hermitage Fine Art: 21 October 2025
Estimated: EUR 8,000 – 10,000
EUR 8,000 (Hammer)
EUR 10,000 / USD 11,600

DAVID HOCKNEY (B. 1937)
Brooke Hopper, 1976
(Scottish Arts Council 177 Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo 166; G. 713)
From Friends
Lithograph on Arches wove paper
Signed, numbered and dated in pencil ‘15/92 David Hockney 76’
Published by Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles, with their blindstamp

Bukowskis Stockholm: 22 October 2022
Estimated: SEK 60,000 – 80,000
SEK 85,000 (Hammer)
SEK 106,250 / USD 9,680

DAVID HOCKNEY (United Kingdom, Born 1937)
“Brooke Hopper” (Scottish Arts Council 177), 1976
Lithograph
Signed and dated in pencil 15/92

de Vuyst: 22 October 2022
Estimated: EUR 6,000 – 8,000
EUR 10,000 / USD 9,860

DAVID HOCKNEY
Brooke Hopper, 1976
Lithograph
Signed and dated in pencil 64/92

Christie’s New-York: 22 October 2021
Estimated: USD 5,000 – 7,000
USD 9,375

DAVID HOCKNEY (B. 1937)
Brooke Hopper, 1976
Lithograph on Arches paper
signed and dated in pencil, numbered 21/92, (there were also 33 artist’s proofs)

 

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Mo McDermott (SAC 178)

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Mo McDermott
from Friends

Medium: Lithograph on Arches paper
Year: 1976
Sheet: 32 1/4 x 23 3/4 inches (82.5 x 60.3 cm)
Edition: 100
Artist’s Proofs: XX AP
Publisher: Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles
Literature: Scottish Arts Council (178); Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (167)

Signed, dated and numbered in pencil
With the blindstamp and inkstamp of the publisher on the reverse

 

 

Auction Results

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Hermitage Fine Art: 21 October 2025
Estimated: EUR 7,000 – 8,000
EUR 7,000 (Hammer)
EUR 8,750 / USD 10,150

DAVID HOCKNEY (B. 1937)
Mo McDermott (SAC 178), 1976
From Friends
Lithograph on wove paper
Signed, numbered and dated in pencil ‘17/100 David Hockney 1976’
Published by Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles

Bonhams London: 29 June 2022
Estimated: GBP 3,000 – 5,000
GBP 7,013 / USD 8,545

 

 

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Henry Geldzahler with Hat (SAC 181)

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Sotheby’s London: 15 November 2023
Estimated: GBP 3,000 – 5,000
GBP 7,620 / USD 9,520

DAVID HOCKNEY (b. 1937)
Henry Geldzahler with Hat (from Friends) (S.A.C. 181), 1976
Lithograph on Arches wove paper
Signed in pencil, dated and numbered 7/96

 

 

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Don Cribb (SAC 183)

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Don Cribb
from Friends

Medium: Lithograph on Arches mould-made buff paper
Year: 1976
Image: 8 1/2 x 9 inches (21.6 x 22.9 cm)
Sheet: 17×11 inches (43.5 x 28 cm)
Edition: 59
Artist’s Proofs: 28 AP
Printer: Ronald McPherson
Publisher: Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles
Literature: Scottish Arts Council (183), Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (171), Gemini (720)

Signed in red crayon, dated and numbered in pencil

Auction Results

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Sotheby’s London: 7 June 2023
Estimated: GBP 1,000 – 2,000
GBP 1,200

DAVID HOCKNEY (b. 1937)
Don Cribb, from Friends, 1976
Lithograph on Arches mould-made buff paper
Signed in pencil, dated, titled and numbered 13/59

 

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Henry Seated with Tulips (SAC 187)

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Sotheby’s New-York: 15 March 2023
Estimated: USD 5,000 – 6,000
USD 10,160

DAVID HOCKNEY (b. 1937)
Henry Seated with Tulips, from Friends Series, 1976
Lithograph printed in colors on Arches mould-made buff paper
Signed in pencil David Hockney and dated 76 (lower right)
Numbered 22/90 (lower left)

 

Sotheby’s London: 15 November 2023
Estimated: GBP 5,000 – 7,000
GBP 10,160 / USD 12,695

DAVID HOCKNEY (b. 1937)
Henry at Table (from Friends) (S.A.C. 188; MCA Tokyo 176), 1976
Lithograph printed in colours on Arches wove paper
Signed in pencil, dated and numbered 5/96 

 

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Henry Reading the Newspaper (SAC 197)

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Hermitage Fine Art: 21 October 2025
Estimated: EUR 9,000 – 10,000
EUR 9,000 (Hammer)
EUR 11,250 / USD 13,050

DAVID HOCKNEY (B. 1937)
Henry reading newspaper (SAC 197), 1976
From Friends
Lithograph on wove paper
Signed in orange and numbered ‘49/71 David Hockney’ (lower left)
Published by Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles

Swann Auction Galleries: 16 November 2023
Estimated: USD 2,500 – 3,500
USD 2,340

DAVID HOCKNEY
Henry Reading the Newspaper, 1976
Lithograph on Laurence Barker handmade paper
Signed and numbered 21/71 in orange pencil, lower left
Printed and published by Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles

Sotheby’s London: 15 November 2023
Estimated: GBP 2,000 – 3,000
GBP 3,556 / USD 4,440

DAVID HOCKNEY (b. 1937)
Henry Reading the Newspaper (from Friends) (S.A.C. 197), 1976
Lithograph on Barker handmade paper
Signed in orange pencil and numbered 35/71