Barbara Hepworth's Rescued Sculpture Anchors Courtauld Show on Her Use of Color
Last summer, approximately 3,000 art enthusiasts from Britain, along with U.K. cultural funds, successfully raised £3.8 million ($5.1 million) to secure Barbara Hepworth's 1943 piece, Sculpture with Color (Oval Form) Pale Blue and Red, for the nation. The artwork, which had remained in private ownership since its inception, was auctioned at Christie's London in March 2024. The Hepworth Wakefield museum spearheaded this initiative, with backing from notable artists Antony Gormley and Anish Kapoor, to ensure the sculpture's retention in the U.K. Currently, it serves as the highlight of the 'Hepworth in Color' exhibition at London's Courtauld Gallery, which runs from June 12 to September 6, 2026, featuring 20 sculptures and 30 drawings that reflect Hepworth's color inspirations from Cornwall's scenery.
Key facts
- Nearly 3,000 British art lovers and U.K. cultural funds raised £3.8 million ($5.1 million) to acquire Barbara Hepworth's Sculpture with Color (Oval Form) Pale Blue and Red (1943).
- The sculpture was sold at Christie's London in March 2024 and was set to be exported.
- The Hepworth Wakefield museum led the campaign with support from Antony Gormley and Anish Kapoor.
- The work is now the centerpiece of 'Hepworth in Color' at London's Courtauld Gallery.
- The exhibition is the first devoted to Hepworth's relationship with color.
- It features 20 sculptures and 30 drawings from around the U.K. and beyond.
- Hepworth's color experiments began in 1939 when she moved to St. Ives, Cornwall.
- The exhibition runs from June 12 to September 6, 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Barbara Hepworth
- Antony Gormley
- Anish Kapoor
- Alan Bowness
Institutions
- Hepworth Wakefield
- Courtauld Gallery
- Christie's London
- Pier Arts Centre
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- St. Ives
- Cornwall
- Atlantic Ocean