Wakefield Hepworth gallery set to reopen on 10th anniversary with biggest ever collection of Barbara Hepworth's work

Wakefield’s Hepworth gallery is set to reopen on its 10th anniversary with the biggest exhibition of work from Barbara Hepworth since the artist’s death in 1975.
Barbara Hepworth November 1964. Picture by Lucien Myers. copyright Bowness.Barbara Hepworth November 1964. Picture by Lucien Myers. copyright Bowness.
Barbara Hepworth November 1964. Picture by Lucien Myers. copyright Bowness.

The gallery was forced to close as a result of Covid restrictions but is now set to return on Friday, May 21.

The exhibition will present an in-depth view of the Wakefield-born artist’s life, interests, work and legacy.

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It will display some of Hepworth’s most celebrated sculptures including the modern abstract carving that launched her career in the 1920s and 1930s, her strung sculptures of the 1940s and 1950s, and large-scale bronze and carved sculptures from later in her career.

The HepworthThe Hepworth
The Hepworth

Key loans from national public collections will be shown alongside works from private collections that have not been on public display since the 1970s. Simon Wallis, director of The

Hepworth Wakefield, said: “Lockdown continues to be an ongoing challenge for us all, so I’m delighted we’ll be celebrating, post-lockdown, our 10th anniversary with an in-depth exploration of the art and life of Barbara Hepworth, Wakefield’s most famous daughter.

“With this major exhibition and new book, we’ll continue to build on the legacy and influence of a key pioneer of modern sculpture.

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“Hepworth is a daily inspiration for us at the gallery and we look forward to sharing some of her greatest work with a wide new audience.”

To coincide with the exhibition the Hepworth’s curator, Eleanor Clayton, has written a major new biography on the artist.

She said: “Barbara Hepworth is one of the most important artists of the 20th century, with a unique artistic vision that demands to be looked at in depth.

“This exhibition will shine a light on Hepworth’s wide-ranging interests and how they infused her art practice.”

Entry is free for Wakefield district residents and under-16s.Returning: The gallery is set to reopen

‘Barbara Hepworth is one of the most important artists of the 20th century.’

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