Barbara Hepworth masterpiece secured for the nation goes on display at The Hepworth Wakefield this weekend – and free entry for all during opening week.
26 Sep 2025
The Hepworth Wakefield and Art Fund are thrilled to announce that Sculpture with Colour (Oval Form) Pale Blue and Red (1943) by Barbara Hepworth, acquired for the nation following the success of a £3.8 million public appeal, will go on public display for the first time at The Hepworth Wakefield this weekend.
Sculpture with Colour (Oval Form) Pale Blue and Red is a pivotal piece in Hepworth’s development as an artist. One of only a small number of wooden carvings she produced during the 1940s and among her first major works incorporating string, it represents a key moment in her artistic evolution.
Previously in private ownership and rarely exhibited, the sculpture was placed under a temporary export bar by the UK Government, following a recommendation from the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest, recognising its national significance and giving a UK institution the opportunity to acquire it.
This acquisition was made possible through a national fundraising campaign led by The Hepworth Wakefield and Art Fund, supported by donations from more than 2,800 members of the public. Significant backing also came from major funders, including a £1.89 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, £750,000 from Art Fund, and generous contributions from trusts, foundations, and philanthropists. Thanks to this successful appeal, the work has now joined Wakefield’s permanent art collection.
To celebrate this landmark acquisition, The Hepworth Wakefield is offering free entry for everyone during the opening week of this spotlight exhibition. Visitors are invited to discover the newly unveiled sculpture and explore Hepworth’s legacy in the city where she was born.
The acquisition enables the West Yorkshire gallery to tell a more complete story of Hepworth’s extraordinary career and innovative practice. Now secured for future generations, this exceptional work will be accessible to all – local communities, schools, students and culture enthusiasts from across the UK and beyond – as part of Wakefield’s permanent art collection at The Hepworth Wakefield.
The gallery will mark the arrival of the sculpture with an intimate exhibition telling the story of this rare and important work, created under remarkable circumstances during the Second World War. Alongside the sculpture will be archive material including rarely seen photographs of Hepworth and letters from the period in which the sculpture was made between Hepworth and then-Director of Wakefield Art Gallery, Ernest Musgrave. Sculpture with Colour (Oval Form) Pale Blue and Red will be reunited with its ‘stringing map’, which the gallery already owns, providing visitors with insight into the practical process of art-making.
FREE entry for all visitors during opening week
All visitors to The Hepworth Wakefield will be able to see the sculpture for free across the opening week of Saturday 27 September to Friday 3 October 2025, 10am – 5pm.
The Hepworth Wakefield’s permanent galleries exploring Hepworth’s studio environment, her tools and materials, and the works she created in the later years of her life, including a unique collection of the artist’s working models for her bronze sculptures, will also be free to view.
During the opening weekend, families are invited to take part in a range of hands-on art activities inspired by Hepworth’s work, including a brand-new workshop where budding young artists can create their own sculptures to take home. Throughout the week, visitors can also join curator-led highlight tours, offering fresh insights and new perspectives on the significance of this important work and Hepworth’s enduring influence.
The Hepworth Wakefield is free all year round for Members, Wakefield District residents and under 18s. Art Fund National Art Pass holders will be able to view the work for free until spring 2026 and can continue to enjoy 50% off tickets for The Hepworth Wakefield’s temporary exhibitions.
Thank you
Alongside over 2,800 public donors, the appeal’s success was made possible by an exceptional £1.89 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, a £750,000 grant from Art Fund, and generous support from the Deborah Loeb Brice Foundation, The Forster Foundation, Garcia Family Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, The Headley Trust, the Hepworth family, the Henry Moore Foundation, John Studzinski CBE, The Julia Rausing Trust, and many other individuals, trusts and foundations.
“Sculpture with Colour (Oval Form) Pale Blue and Red has been in private hands since it was first created in 1943, and very rarely shown in public exhibitions since then. We are delighted to be able to give this sculpture the attention it deserves in a dedicated display here in Wakefield, the UK’s capital of sculpture, so that many people can experience this beautiful artwork for themselves. In celebration of the incredible generosity people have demonstrated in saving this sculpture for the nation, we are giving free admission to everyone to see the new work and our permanent Hepworth galleries.” Olivia Colling, Interim Director & CEO, The Hepworth Wakefield
“It is a huge collective achievement to have saved this exceptional sculpture for the nation, at a time when it has never been harder for UK museums to acquire major works of art. At its new permanent home in Wakefield, Hepworth’s sculpture will allow the museum to tell richer stories, broaden perspectives, and inspire generations to come. Art Fund is so proud to have led this campaign with The Hepworth Wakefield to keep the sculpture in the UK in a public museum and we hope the many generous individuals who made this possible will now enjoy the chance to see the sculpture on display.” Jenny Waldman, Director, Art Fund
“It is wonderful news that The Hepworth Wakefield has successfully acquired the beautiful Sculpture with Colour (Oval Form) Pale Blue and Red to become part of the UK public collection for all to enjoy and take inspiration from. We are thrilled to have played a key role in saving this nationally significant work thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, continuing our support for The Hepworth Wakefield since its creation in 2011. At the Heritage Fund, our ambition is to connect people and communities to the UK’s remarkable heritage, and this acquisition is one that truly embodies that vision. Given the public outpouring to save the work, it is incredibly fitting that it will take pride of place in this fantastic civic gallery allowing visitors from the local area, and further afield, to get up close to the exceptional heritage of one of the UK’s seminal sculptors in her hometown of Wakefield.” Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive at The National Lottery Heritage Fund
“It is incredible that The Hepworth Wakefield were able to raise £3.8 million with the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Art Fund, and a public appeal. This speaks volumes about our country’s passion for making arts accessible to everyone across the nation. Without the government’s export bar on this iconic Barbara Hepworth sculpture providing crucial time for this fund-raising, there’s every chance that the UK public could’ve permanently lost access to this wonderful piece of our national artistic heritage.” Baroness Twycross, Museums & Cultural Property Minister
“Today’s announcement is wonderful news for the UK’s public collections, our national culture, and most importantly, the people of Wakefield. This acquisition adds a vital piece to The Hepworth Wakefield’s already impressive collection of works by Barbara Hepworth. I would like to thank the Reviewing Committee for their vital work in recommending the export stop, as well as The Hepworth Wakefield, Art Fund, and the nearly 3,000 members of the public who came together to support this acquisition.” Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair, Arts Council England
“This magnificent Sculpture with Colour (Oval Form) Pale Blue and Red, so recently at risk of leaving the country for good, now finds the perfect home at The Hepworth Wakefield. Protecting our shared cultural heritage is vitally important work, and one that challenges us to also balance the interests of our nation’s large international art trade. Seeing objects like this sculpture on public display as the result of our recommended export bar and a tireless fundraising campaign, however, shows both the impact and the importance of the Reviewing Committee’s work.” Andrew Hochhauser KC, Chair, Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest
“As the birthplace of Barbara Hepworth, our district already has an amazing heritage of sculpture. So, we’re really pleased that The Hepworth Wakefield has successfully raised the funds to secure this wonderful and important sculpture, which will go on permanent public display for our residents and visitors to enjoy. And I can’t wait to see if for myself.” Cllr Hannah Appleyard, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport
