Sir Alan Bowness, 1928 - 2021
02 Mar 2021
We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Sir Alan Bowness (b. 1928), whose vision and dedicated work over many decades has played an important role in shaping the art scene in Britain as we know it today.
Sir Alan was responsible for the hugely important gift of a major group of work by Barbara Hepworth to her home town of Wakefield in the late 1990s, which through his advocacy and determination was the catalyst for the creation of The Hepworth Wakefield. The Hepworth Family Gift continues to be central to the ongoing success of the gallery as we enter our 10th anniversary year.
The ongoing life-enhancing engagement with art Sir Alan has enabled throughout the UK has touched millions of people’s lives and transformed them for the better: that will always continue to be the case. It’s an extraordinary legacy.
The thoughts of everyone at The Hepworth Wakefield are with the Bowness family at this very difficult and sad time.
Header image, left to right: Rachel Nicholson, Dr Sophie Bowness, Lady Sarah Bowness, Sir Alan Bowness and Jeremy Kidd, photographed in July 2016.
