The Hepworth Wakefield

It is a large modern gallery that was opened in 2011, although its roots go back to the original Wakefield Art Gallery that was founded in 1923.

The gallery is named after the sculptor, Barbara Hepworth, who was born and raised in Wakefield.

What to see at The Hepworth Wakefield

The gallery displays an art collection that spans from the 16th century to the present day, although the focus is on contemporary and modern art. It includes works by Anthony Caro, Jacob Epstein, Ivon Hitchens, David Hockney, LS Lowry, Henry Moore, Paul Nash, Ben Nicholson, Graham Sutherland and, of course, Barbara Hepworth.

Highlights of the collection include works by local West Yorkshire artists Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore including Hepworth’s Mother and Child (1934) and Moore’s Reclining Figure (1936). It also features 44 plaster and aluminium working models donated by Barbara Hepworth’s family.

Around two-thirds of the art on display is from The Hepworth’s own collection and this is supplemented by a programme of temporary exhibitions.

The purpose-built gallery is a modern brutalist-style building that has polarised local opinion. The design allows the galleries to be lit by natural light and the building is an imposing sight when viewed from across the River Calder; however, some people feel that the modern building is not reflective of the local area.

Temporary exhibitions at The Hepworth Wakefield

The Hepworth Wakefield hosts a programme of temporary exhibitions. Current and planned exhibitions include:

Tall Paul Kelly
This exhibition (until July 2025) at The Hepworth Wakefield Cafe showcases screen-printed posters by Saltaire-based artist Tall Paul Kelly. A recipient of the 2024 Print Fair Prize, Kelly began the series during lockdown after returning to West Yorkshire. The posters feature bold colours, striking compositions and subtle visual puns, inspired by tourism and commercial art.

Resonant Forms
This exhibition (until January 2026) looks at how artists have explored sound through visual form, rhythm and structure. It centres on Barbara Hepworth’s stringed sculptures, which often reference musical ideas. Hepworth’s work reflects her lifelong interest in music. Other featured artists include Jadé Fadojutimi, Howard Hodgkin and Brian Wall. A suspended sculpture by Haegue Yang, made from silver bells, is also on display for the first time. The show includes works spanning several decades and artistic approaches.

Elizabeth Fritsch: Otherworldly Vessels
This exhibition (until spring 2026) surveys the work of ceramicist Elizabeth Fritsch (born 1940), spanning the 1970s to 2013. Over 100 pieces will be shown, many from her private collection. Fritsch trained as a musician before turning to ceramics in 1966. She studied under figures including Hans Coper. Her work reflects interests in music, literature and architecture. Associated with the ‘New Ceramics’ movement, Fritsch helped shift British studio pottery in new directions during the late 20th century.

A Living Collection
This exhibition (until spring 2026) presents recent additions to Wakefield’s art collection, many displayed for the first time. Most works were acquired in the last 18 months. The collection, founded in 1923, focuses on contemporary art and its relevance to modern life. Works by artists including Li Hei Di, Nour Jaouda, Eileen Cooper and Andrew Cranston will feature. A selection of ceramics, acquired through awards, donations and bequests, will also be included in the display.

Helen Chadwick: Life Pleasures
This retrospective (17 May–27 October 2025) explores the work of British artist Helen Chadwick (1953–1996), her first in over 25 years. It traces her career from In the Kitchen (1977) to Piss Flowers (1991–2). Chadwick challenged traditional ideas of beauty, blending aesthetic appeal with unusual materials like meat, compost and chocolate. Known for her feminist perspective and humour, she was one of the first women nominated for the Turner Prize in 1987. The exhibition examines her influence on feminist and material culture.

Caroline Walker: Mothering
Caroline Walker (b.1982, Dunfermline) is known for her paintings exploring women’s everyday lives. Trained at Glasgow School of Art and the Royal College of Art, her work spans large canvases, smaller panels and ink sketches. She examines the blurred boundaries between public and private spaces, focusing on women’s social and economic experiences. This exhibition (17 May–27 October 2025) features works from the past five years alongside new pieces exploring motherhood and early-years care.

Kira Freije
This exhibition (22 November 2025–May 2026) marks Kira Freije’s (b.1985, London) first major UK solo show. It features around 20 life-size figures arranged in small groups, suggesting fragmented narratives or emotional states. Freije sculpts the figures using welded stainless steel, aluminium casts of hands and feet, and materials like brass, copper and fabric. Faces are cast from people significant to her life. The exhibition incorporates atmospheric lighting and glass lamps made by the artist, creating an immersive, reflective space.

Playing with Fire: Edmund de Waal and Axel Salto
This exhibition (22 November 2025–May 2026) brings Axel Salto’s ceramics to the UK, curated by artist and author Edmund de Waal. It includes Salto’s expressive stoneware and rarely seen drawings, illustrations and writings. Salto, active in the early 20th century, worked across disciplines and was influenced by modernist ideas. A new installation by de Waal reflects on Salto’s legacy. The exhibition is organised in partnership with CLAY Museum of Ceramic Art, Denmark and Kunstsilo, Norway.

Visiting The Hepworth Wakefield

The Hepworth Wakefield is located south of the city centre on the banks of the River Calder. It is around a 15-minute walk from the heart of the city centre and the Chantry Chapel and Wakefield Kirkgate station are only a five-minute walk away.

Visitor facilities on the ground floor include a gift shop and a cafe bar that offers lovely views of the river.

If you have an interest in modern art, you may also want to visit the Yorkshire Sculpture Park around a half-hour outside the city and the Henry Moore Insitute in Leeds. Farther afield, Barbara Hepworth fans may also like to visit the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden in St Ives in Cornwall, which is run as an extension of the Tate St Ives.