Barbara Hepworth

British · 1903–1975

Dame Barbara Hepworth (1903–1975) was a pioneering British abstract sculptor known for her organic, pierced forms in stone and bronze. One of the most significant artists of the 20th century, she is closely associated with the St Ives modernist movement.

Public sculptures and installations

amandabhslater / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Single Form (Memorial)

1962 · Battersea Park, London

A bronze memorial by Dame Barbara Hepworth to Dag Hammarskjöld, Secretary-General of the United Nations, who died in a plane crash in 1961. This version has stood on the south shore of Battersea Park's boating lake since 1964.

On now and coming soon exhibitions

Hepworth in Colour

Until Sep 6

First exhibition dedicated to Hepworth's pioneering use of colour in sculpture

"The rounded, white plaster objects are cut open to reveal deep blue interiors that seem immemorial, although Hepworth has simply painted them. Across the blue illusionistic depths, red-painted strings are tautly fixed. The red strings might suggest seaweed if, like me, you can't get nature out of your head looking at these abstract yet evocative works."

— The Guardian

More artists

Anish Kapoor

British, Indian · b. 1954

Sculpture, Installation

Joseph Beuys

German · 1921–1986

Performance, Sculpture, Installation, Drawing & Works on Paper

Pablo Picasso

Spanish · 1881–1973

Painting, Sculpture, Prints, Drawing & Works on Paper