A groundbreaking wooden sculpture by Barbara Hepworth, one of the 20th century's most influential abstract artists, has been successfully acquired for Britain's national art collection following a remarkable public fundraising effort that raised $4.8 million. The rare artwork, titled "Sculpture with Colour (Oval Form) Pale Blue and Red," created in 1943, represents a pivotal moment in Hepworth's artistic career and will now be permanently displayed at the Hepworth Wakefield museum in her hometown of West Yorkshire.
This exceptional piece marked a significant breakthrough in Hepworth's artistic development and stands as one of only a handful of wooden carvings she created during the 1940s. More importantly, it represents one of the first major works in which she incorporated her innovative use of strings, a technique that would become her signature artistic approach. The sculpture is particularly unique as it's the only work by Hepworth to feature multicolored strings pulled taut against a pale blue interior, reflecting her deep connection to the Cornish landscape that surrounded her during its creation.
The sculpture's journey to public ownership began when it was sold to an anonymous buyer at Christie's auction house a year ago. Recognizing its cultural significance, the British government immediately imposed a temporary export ban to prevent the artwork from leaving the country and to provide time for fundraising efforts to keep it within the UK. Having been in private hands and rarely seen by the public since its creation 80 years ago, the piece will now be accessible to visitors for the first time at the Hepworth Wakefield.
Hepworth's creation of this masterpiece is deeply intertwined with her wartime experience and personal circumstances. In 1939, seeking refuge from wartime London, the artist moved to Carbis Bay in St Ives, Cornwall, accompanied by her four young children and her second husband, renowned painter Ben Nicholson. When she relocated, Hepworth brought only one piece with her – the model for what would become "Sculpture with Colour," which she completed in 1943.
The artist initially faced significant challenges in her new environment, including limited studio space, restricted access to materials, and little time for creative work due to her responsibilities as a mother. However, in 1943, circumstances improved when she moved into a larger house that provided adequate space for a small studio. During this period, she was also granted a special government permit that allowed her to use wood for sculpting purposes, despite wartime material restrictions.
The successful acquisition was made possible through an extraordinary display of public support, with more than 2,800 individual donations from members of the public, supplemented by several substantial institutional grants. The National Lottery Heritage Fund contributed $2.4 million to the cause, while the Art Fund provided an additional $950,000, demonstrating the widespread recognition of the sculpture's cultural and artistic importance.
Olivia Colling, who serves as interim director and CEO at the Hepworth Wakefield, expressed her enthusiasm about the acquisition's impact on the museum's mission. "We think she would have been delighted that so many people have come together to enable her work to be part of a public art collection which can be experienced and enjoyed by so many," Colling stated, emphasizing how the purchase enhances the museum's ability to present the complete narrative of Hepworth's career and pioneering artistic innovations.
The significance of this acquisition extends beyond its immediate cultural value, as emphasized by Richard Deacon, both a distinguished artist and Art Fund trustee, who shared his personal connection to the work. "Barbara Hepworth's Sculpture with Colour (Oval Form) Pale Blue and Red is a testament to the undaunted spirit of a great artist and to her steadfast belief in an anticipated future," Deacon reflected. He recalled first encountering the sculpture in 1968 during a major Barbara Hepworth retrospective at the Tate Gallery, where it made a profound and lasting impression on him.
Deacon further emphasized the sculpture's exceptional condition and its appropriate new home, stating, "It has been a joy to see it again in such wonderful condition. The Hepworth Wakefield is the right home for it, and I'm overjoyed that it will now be held in a public collection in the UK for the benefit of all our and our descendants' futures." This acquisition ensures that future generations will have access to one of the earliest and finest examples of Hepworth's innovative stringed sculptures, securing an important piece of 20th-century British art history for the nation.
