Barbara Hepworth Biography, Life, Interesting Facts

Barbara Hepworth was celebrated as a successful sculptor and resounding English artist. She defined positive influence in a direct approach. In other words, Hepworth ruled the 20th-century world. Her incredible work was communicative even to the unknown. She was the eldest child of four siblings, and her artistic interest began when she was in her teenage years.

To fathom further, Barbara Hepworth went to Leeds School of Art with the aim of bonding with her steadfast career. Despite several failures, Hepworth rose without regrets. That is where she embraced strong joints such as exhibitions. Eventually, her artistic talent matured where she began to improvise wood carvings with an escort of metallic and string background. Afterward, she employed bronze touch that received real appreciation.

Childhood and Early Life

On January 10, 1903, Jocelyn Barbara Hepworth was born in England, Wakefield to Gertrude and a County Surveyor Herbert Hepworth. Before earning a scholarship at the Leeds School of Art, Hepworth attended Wakefield Girls’ High School.

At the Leeds school, Barbara Hepworth met with her college student, Henry Moore; they went along well and became long-term friends. Henry played a crucial role for the rest of her career life. From 1921 to 1924 Barbara received a county scholarship where she joined Royal College of Art. Here she garnered a diploma.

Career

After the completion of her studies, Barbara Hepworth moved to Florence, Italy in partnership with West Riding Travel Scholarship. It was here that she practiced several methods of carving from Giovanni Ardini, a sculptor expert. In the mid of 1926, Hepworth moved to London where she continued to showcase her work. She founded the Unit One Art movement in 1933 in partnership with Ben Nicholson and Paul Nash. Their motive was to unite different effects of arts (surrealism) as well as the quality of art (abstraction).

Before creating her famous Circle layout in 1937, Hepworth fabricated ‘Three Forms’ a kind of a definite sculpture in 1935.According to commentators the produced sculpture centralized or defined the brightness of her born triplets. She later moved with her triplets to Cornwell, England where she triggered her third sculpture work titled ‘Tides’ in 1946.

Barbara Hepworth and her husband, Nicholson established the Penwith Society of Arts along with prominent artists such as Bernard Leach. In the mid of 1950, Barbara defined her love for bronze by working with some of its quality. In 1951 she created the Festival of Britain Art of a piece. Her proceeding action symbolized two legendary cemented figures known as ‘Contrapuntal Forms.' The feature was later exhibited at the London’s South Bank.

For the following two years, Hepworth presented a symbol of a medium-sized sculpture that illustrated human anatomy. She followed it up with massive sculptures including the notable ‘Four-Square Walk Through’ in 1966.In her later life; Barbara conducted preliminary research with oil and water where she produced ink-impressions styles. Her famous work included The Aegean Suite in 1971.

Barbara Major Works

Barbara Hepworth is always remembered for her incredible work titled Single Form. She specifically created it in remembrance of her friend. It is the only sculpture that is designated in the United Nations building in New York City.

Awards and Achievements

From 1958 to 1973 Barbara Hepworth chaired the Commander of the Order seat in British Empire. She was also benefited by the highly recognizable name of the Dame Commander of the Order the DBE. She later received the Freedom of St.lves Award. In the mid of 1973, she was selected to chair the American Academy of Letters and Arts.

Personal Life and Legacy

In 1925 Barbara Hepworth married the love of her life, John Skeaping, a famous sculpture. They were later blessed with a son named Paul. But their relationship was cut short after a divorce in 1933. The same year, she married Ben Nicholson, and the couple was blessed with triplets; Simon, Sarah, and Rachel. The union ended up in divorce in 1951. Unfortunately, Barbara’s life was cut short after succumbing to a severe accident on May 20, 1975, at 72 years old in Cornwall, St. Levs.