Hockney in 1960: Please see my work

A PLEADING letter from a young David Hockney trying to attract attention to his artwork is to go on display.

The message was sent in 1960 by the then art student Hockney to the director of Wakefied Art Gallery, Helen Kapp.

Hockney, now 82, asks in the letter if she would like to view his work in Skipton, in what is believed to be his first show.

The casually written letter also mentions a pot cat the artist created. Sadly for the young student, he was turned down by Kapp, who even spelt his name wrong in her response.

The two letters will go on display at The Hepworth Wakefield as part of a new exhibition.

Hockney, who earned international fame for his work, wrote in 1960: “Enclosed is a catalogue to the exhibition which we thought you might be interested to see.”

He added: “I don’t know if you remember me, but you once purchased a pot cat off me when I was in Bradford.”

In the letter, Hockney adds that his ceramics mould broke and he was unable to make another ornamental cat for Kapp’s brother and goes on to apologise to the gallery director.

Hockney’s ingratiating letter did not immediately work, with Kapp explaining to “David Hackney Esq” that she does not own a car and Skipton is too far from Wakefield for her to travel.

The 1960 exhibition at the Desormais Art Gallery in Skipton is now believed to be Hockney’s first and the artist apparently left unfinished works locked up in the building.

The new exhibition at The Hepworth explores the early work of the internationally renowned artist and an influence in his career, painter Alan Davie.

Alan Davie & David Hockney: Early Works will open this Saturday.