Barbara Hepworth is widely recognized as one of the most influential British sculptors of the 20th century. Her iconic works are celebrated around the world, often featuring abstract forms that evoke a sense of movement and emotion. From curved sculptures that appear to dance in the air to powerful shapes that embody strength and balance, let’s explore five of Hepworth’s most famous artworks and discover why they have captivated audiences for generations.
Who is Barbara Hepworth?
Barbara Hepworth (1903-1975) was a famous British sculptor who developed a unique style of direct carving. Born in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, she began her artistic career at the Leeds School of Art before continuing her studies at the Royal College of Art in London. While there, she met her future husband and fellow sculptor John Skeaping, with whom she would have a friendly rivalry throughout her career. In addition to being one of the leading British artists of her generation, Hepworth was also an advocate of modern sculpture and was even appointed as a trustee of Tate Britain.
Hepworth had works exhibited around the world, including in Egypt and at the United Nations headquarters in New York City. Her sculptures can still be seen on Oxford Street and in sculpture gardens like that located near St Ives in Cornwall.
Throughout her career, Hepworth explored different forms such as human figures and winged figures as well as abstract shapes that evoked movement and emotion. She is remembered for pioneering direct carving techniques which allowed her to create powerful sculptures from single blocks of stone or wood. Her works are featured in many major galleries today including Tate Britain where head curator Chris Stephens calls them “some of the most iconic artworks produced by any British artist”
1. Single Form (1961–4)
Single Form (1961–4) is one of Barbara Hepworth’s most iconic sculptures. The work was commissioned by John Lewis and was placed in their Oxford Street store in 1961. The piece is a bronze abstract figure which stands at 3 meters tall and is located within the modernist carbis bay estate in St Ives, Cornwall.
The sculpture combines both organic and geometric forms to create an abstract representation of a human form in motion. It has been suggested that Hepworth was inspired by her experience with a plane crash during World War II when creating this work. The sculpture’s curving lines suggest spiraling movement, while its sharp edges evoke feelings of strength and stability.
Single Form is seen as an important example of Hepworth’s exploration of abstract forms as well as her commitment to making art accessible to all through public commissions like the one for John Lewis. It also highlights her place as a leading female artist at a time when women were rarely given recognition for their artistic achievements.
2. Winged Figure (1960)
Winged Figure (1960) is a bronze sculpture by the British sculptor Barbara Hepworth. Casted in 1960, it is one of her most important modern works and is now held in the permanent collection at Tate Britain in London. The sculpture stands over 6 feet tall and depicts a figure with wings outstretched and arms above its head.
The work was inspired by Hepworth’s admiration for Egyptian figures, particularly those of the goddess Isis, which she studied extensively during her time living in Cairo from 1935 to 1939. Though abstracted from any particular subject matter, Winged Figure conveys a sense of freedom and power that has made it an iconic symbol of modern sculpture.
Hepworth achieved this effect through her direct carving technique, which she developed alongside fellow artist John Skeaping during their friendly rivalry at the Leeds School of Art in the 1930s. The technique involves cutting directly into stone or wood to create sculptures without using molds or other aids. This allowed Hepworth to achieve greater expression and immediacy with her forms than ever before.
3. Two Forms (Divided Circle) (1963–4)
Two Forms (Divided Circle) (1963–4) is a bronze sculpture by the British artist Barbara Hepworth. The work consists of two separate pieces, each in the shape of a circle that has been split in half, which are joined together at an angle. The two halves are carved with abstracted linear forms that suggest movement and balance, creating an effect of tension between them.
The piece was created using Hepworth’s direct carving technique, which allowed her to achieve a level of expression and immediacy with her forms that had not been seen before in modern sculpture. It is one of the most significant examples of her work from this period and has been exhibited widely around the world, including at the United Nations headquarters in New York City and Oxford Street in London.
In addition to its formal qualities, Two Forms (Divided Circle) also carries personal significance for Hepworth. It was created shortly after she lost her husband, the artist Chris Stephens, in an airplane crash over West Yorkshire in 1963. As such it can be seen as a powerful symbol of grief and resilience for one of Britain’s most important female artists.
4. Sea Form (Atlantic) (1966)
Sea Form (Atlantic) (1966) is a bronze sculpture by British sculptor Barbara Hepworth. The work consists of two interlocking circular forms which are carved in such a way as to suggest movement, balance, and tension between the two halves. The piece was created using Hepworth’s direct carving technique and is one of the most significant examples of her works from this period.
The piece carries strong personal significance for Hepworth, as it was created at the same time that she was forming a close friendship with fellow British artist John Skeaping. This friendly rivalry can be seen in Sea Form (Atlantic), where the two circles evoke both the friendship between them and their competition over who could create more abstract forms.
Sea Form (Atlantic) has since been exhibited at major institutions around the world including Tate Britain, Leeds School of Art, and The Egyptian Sculpture Garden in Carbis Bay. It continues to be an important part of Hepworth’s legacy as a pioneering female artist and a key figure in British sculpture.
5. Curve with Two Openings (1964–5)
Curve with Two Openings (1964–5) is a modern sculpture by British artist Barbara Hepworth. The work consists of two intertwined hemispheres, created using her signature direct-carving technique. It’s a powerful piece that speaks to the human experience of tension, balance, and movement.
The piece was created in response to the plane crash which killed her first husband and fellow sculptor John Skeaping in 1964. She later wrote that “the two circles are also related to my own loss and despair at this time”. This emotional significance gives the work an added poignancy as well as its formal beauty.
Today, Curve with Two Openings is part of the permanent collection at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City and has been exhibited at major institutions around the world including Tate Britain, Leeds School of Art, and The Egyptian Sculpture Garden in Carbis Bay. It continues to be an important part of Hepworth’s legacy as one of Britain’s most influential female artists.
Conclusion
Barbara Hepworth remains one of the most important British artists of the twentieth century. Her signature style of direct carving, with its abstract forms and human figures, is beloved by art lovers around the world. With pieces in major institutions such as the United Nations Headquarters in New York City and Tate Britain, her legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.
Hepworth’s work has had a huge influence on many other British sculptors including Chris Stephens, Adrian Stokes, and her former husband John Skeaping with whom she shared an intense yet friendly rivalry. She was also a pioneer for woman artists being one of the first women to be elected as an associate of the Royal Academy in London and having a retrospective at Oxford Street’s John Lewis department store in 1966. Perhaps her best-known work is Winged Figure (1960–4) which stands tall in front of Leeds City Art Gallery in West Yorkshire.
Hepworth’s impressive body of work continues to challenge us to rethink our relationship with nature, time, and space, making her an enduring figure in modern sculpture.
