This month's Artist Highlight is Barbara Hepworth.
Dame Jocelyn Barbara Hepworth DBE was born in 1903 and died in an accidental fire in her studio in Cornwall in 1975 at the age of 72. She went to school at Leeds School of Art and then the Royal College of Art. She known for her abstract and modern sculptures.
After graduating from RCA she traveled to Italy where she learned how to carve marble from sculptor Giovanni Ardini. She had 4 children. A son Paul and triplets; Rachel, Sarah and Simon. Rachel and Simon also became artists.
The family moved to Cornwall at the outbreak of World War II. She lived in Trewyn Studios in St. Ives from 1949-1975. Hepworth worked in stone, wood, bronze and clay.
I am so excited I did a quick Google search on Barbara Hepworth and found out that
The exhibition 'Barbara Hepworth in the Rijksmuseum Gardens' is on show in Amsterdam from 3 June until 23 October 2022.
YAY! I get to see 9 of her works in the Rijksmusem Gardens next month! Those that follow me know how much I enjoy art in gardens. Chihuly and Henry Moore are among my favorites to see in garden settings. Now I get to add Barbara Hepworth to the list!
It is her first solo show in the Netherlands. She did show in the Netherlands in 1938 in the exhibition Abstract Kunst at Amsterdam's Stedelikj Museum.
In April I saw Barbara Hepworth at the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden.
Barbara Hepworth
Figure for Landscape, 1960
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, DC
This piece by Barbara is on the street level of the garden next to two Henry Moore pieces. They have a very similar look and feel.
| Figure for Landscape | Two piece Reclining Figure: Points | Upright Motive No. 1; Glenkiln Cross |
Henry Moore has been a favorite of mine for years.
Two of my first Art Talk posts in 2018 were of Henry Moore
Art Talk: Moore Across America
Art Talk: Moore in America
It is so cool to find out that Barbara and Henry were contemporaries. They met at Leeds School of Art and were friends and rivals.
While always remaining constant to my conviction about truth to material, I found a greater freedom for myself.
Hepworth, 1968
I am very excited to see her art in Amsterdam next month!
Sources:
Barbara Hepworth- Wikipedia
Barbara Hepworth: Freedom and form
Barbara Hepworth- A New Form for Sculpture
Barbara Hepworth In the Rijksusuem Gardens
Art Talk Series Highlights
2022
Theme: Artists
Art Talk: Yoyoi Kusama
Art Talk: Heloise Crista
Art Talk: Chihuly on Paper
Art Talk: Etel Adnan
Art Talk: Vasily Kandinsky
Other
Art Talk: Stained Glass Windows at the National Cathedral
ICM at the DBG
Art Talk: 2021 Posts
Art Talk: 2020 Posts
Art Talk: 2019 Posts
Art Talk: 2018 Posts
