British artist David Hockney, considered one of the most influential and defining figures in contemporary art, whose paintings captured the world in brilliant colour, has died aged 88, his public relations agent announced Friday. Describing Hockney as "one of the most important figures in contemporary art in both the 20th and 21st centuries", his publicist Erica Bolton said in a statement that he had "passed away peacefully at home" in London on Thursday, a month before his 89th birthday. (FRANCE 24 with AFP) This a breaking news story and will be updated.