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.
Rhythm, Dance and Everything: The Body and Performance from Hepworth to Now (opening 21 March 2026)
In 1973, near the end of her life, Hepworth said, ‘One is physically involved and this is sculpture… It’s rhythm and dance and everything.’ This exhibition unites some of Hepworth’s most iconic sculptures with innovative works by artists working in her legacy, creating a dynamic dialogue around the body, movement, and performance. Hepworth’s organic forms—renowned for their tactile engagement with space and reference to the human figure—are presented in conversation with contemporary artworks that stretch the boundaries of physicality and gesture. Visitors are invited to consider the body as both subject and instrument, tracing lines of influence from Hepworth’s careful explorations of poise and presence to experimental contemporary practices that revisit anew notions of the body and identity in the twenty-first century. Artists include Barbara Hepworth, Sarah Lucas, Magdalene Odundo, Louise Giovanelli, Ro Robertson, Alice Channer, Tau Lewis, Rachel Jones, Shenece Oretha, Danielle Mckinney and Phyllida Barlow, among others.
Modern Art and Modern Life: Highlights from Wakefield’s 20th Century Collection (opening 21 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 Hans Coper, Barbara Hepworth, Naum Gabo, Keith Vaughan, Ben Nicholson, Ronald Moody, Henry Moore, Roland Penrose, and Eileen Agar.
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, Sara Barker, James Tower, Nehemia Azaz, Emii Alrai and Jennifer Lee will be displayed alongside collection highlights from Barbara Hepworth, Patrick Heron, L. S. Lowry, and Henry Moore.
