
Sophia Sohal
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The 1968 etching Ossie and Mo is a poignant and deeply personal tribute to two significant relationships in David Hockney's life, that of the late fashion designer Ossie Clark and late sculptor Mo McDermott. Like many of Hockney's portraits, it reflects a collaborative process in which artist and sitter work together to create an intimate, meaningful representation. These portraits go beyond mere visual documentation; they serve as expressions of the artist's close emotional connections and friendships.
Hockney first met Ossie Clark, a British fashion designer, in 1961 while studying in Manchester. Clark's career took off with his 1965 MA graduation collection from the Royal College of Art, which was inspired by Bridget Riley's Op Art and shaped by a 1964 trip to America with Hockney. The collection received critical acclaim, with pieces featured in Vogue just months after his student show.
Clark met his future wife and creative partner, textile designer Celia Birtwell, while they were both art students in Manchester. Together, they became one of the most iconic design duos of the era, Birtwell creating patterns, and Clark crafting them into his signature flowing, ethereal dresses. His client list reads like a who's who of 1960s and '70s fashion icons, including Twiggy, Penelope Tree, Marianne Faithfull, Talitha Getty, Bianca Jagger, Jean Shrimpton, Elizabeth Taylor, and Liza Minnelli.
In 1969, Clark married Celia Birtwell. That same year, Hockney, who served as Clark's best man, gifted the couple one of his most celebrated paintings, Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy, which immortalizes the pair in a moment of domestic stillness and elegance.