New exhibitions to celebrate Wakefield’s art collection and the legacy of Barbara Hepworth
09 Jan 2026
To mark its 15th birthday in 2026, the gallery will present two exhibitions that celebrate the core story of Wakefield’s art collection and the legacy of the Wakefield-born artist it was named after, Barbara Hepworth. These new exhibitions open in March 2026 ahead of the gallery's birthday in May 2026.
Through sculpture, installation, video and live performance, Rhythm, Dance and Everything: The Body and Performance in Art from Hepworth to Now (opening March 2026) will reveal how artists continually reimagine embodiment – whether in the solid stillness of carved stone or the fleeting choreography of the present moment. By intertwining past and present, the exhibition offers a compelling meditation on how movement shapes our experience of art, and our understanding of ourselves.
Modern Art and Modern Life: Highlights from Wakefield’s Modern British Collection (opening March 2026) will chart a compelling narrative of British modernism shaped by shifting cultural contexts and personal visions. It will highlight key works in Wakefield’s collection by artists including Wilhelmina Barnes-Graham, Hans Coper, Barbara Hepworth, Terry Frost, Naum Gabo, Patrick Heron, Ben Nicholson, Ronald Moody, Henry Moore, Roland Penrose, and Lucie Rie.
Alongside these two new exhibitions, A Living Collection continues to showcase art works that have been donated or fundraised for to keep Wakefield’s art collection ‘a living collection’ for future generations to enjoy. A refresh of the display in March 2026 will include works that have joined the collection in the last 18 months and displayed for the first time since their acquisition. Newly acquired works by Emma Prempeh, Tau Lewis, Aaron Angell, Hans Coper, Nehemia Azaz and Jennifer Lee will be displayed alongside collection highlights from Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore.
Exhibition entry is FREE for Members, Wakefield District residents and under 18s.
