The Hepworth Prize for Sculpture

The £30,000 biennial award recognises a British or UK-based artist of any
age who has made a significant contribution to
the development of contemporary sculpture. 

Barbara Hepworth working on the armature of Single Form in the Palais de Danse, St Ives (1961/1961) by Studio St IvesThe Hepworth Wakefield

Dr Sophie Bowness, art historian, granddaughter of Barbara Hepworth and a Trustee of The Hepworth Wakefield said: 'The launch of the UK’s first prize for sculpture is a fitting legacy to Barbara Hepworth, one of Britain’s greatest sculptors whose career was enhanced through a variety of awards, from her early scholarships to the Grand Prix at the 1959 São Paulo Biennale'.

Steven Claydon, Installation view (2016/2017) by Steven ClaydonThe Hepworth Wakefield

The Prize exhibition

Four shortlisted artists – Phyllida Barlow, Steven Claydon, Helen Marten and David Medalla – presented their work in an exhibition at The Hepworth Wakefield from 21 October 2016 to 19 February 2017.

Screestage, Installation view (2016/2016) by Phyllida BarlowThe Hepworth Wakefield

Phyllida Barlow

'It was a surprise and huge honour to be shortlisted for the inaugural Hepworth Prize for Sculpture. Without doubt, it will be a thrilling experience to exhibit at The Hepworth Wakefield and to take into consideration its dynamic architecture, which has sculpture very much in mind.'

The Hepworth Sculpture Prize: Phyllida Barlow (2016/2016) by Phyllida BarlowThe Hepworth Wakefield

Phyllida Barlow, Installation view (2016/2017) by Phyllida BarlowThe Hepworth Wakefield

Phyllida Barlow, Installation view (2016/2017) by Phyllida BarlowThe Hepworth Wakefield

Phyllida Barlow, Installation view (2016/2017) by Phyllida BarlowThe Hepworth Wakefield

steven Claydon, Installation view (2016/2017) by Steven ClaydonThe Hepworth Wakefield

Steven Claydon

'I’m very pleased to have been shortlisted for this award. Although multifaceted, my work derives primarily from interaction with the world of objects: they are the conduits, the vehicles that provide access to the intangible realms of the emotional, digital, poetic and theoretical. In that way, sculpture always endures. It is legitimised by the cultural context and the physical realities of the epoch in which it is formed.'

The Hepworth Sculpture Prize: Steven Claydon (2016/2016) by Steven ClaydonThe Hepworth Wakefield

Steven Claydon, Installation view (2016/2017) by Steven ClaydonThe Hepworth Wakefield

Steven Claydon, Installation view (2016/2017) by Steven ClaydonThe Hepworth Wakefield

Steven Claydon, Installation view (2016/2017) by Steven ClaydonThe Hepworth Wakefield

Helen Marten, Installation view (2016/2017) by Helen MartenThe Hepworth Wakefield

Helen Marten

'In a world collapsing under the pressure of billions of personal interfaces, it is exciting to celebrate our relationship to physical touch and the material substance of our daily actions. I am particularly honoured to be included in a shortlist of artists so dedicated to making sculpture, and am excited to make an exhibition with a group of such esteemed and diverse practitioners.'

The Hepworth Sculpture Prize: Helen Marten (2016/2016) by Helen MartenThe Hepworth Wakefield

Helen Marten, Installation View (2014/2014) by Helen MartenThe Hepworth Wakefield

Helen Marten, Installation view (2016/2017) by Helen MartenThe Hepworth Wakefield

Cloud Canyons (1964/2016) by David MedallaThe Hepworth Wakefield

David Medalla

'I feel honoured in being selected for an exhibition at The Hepworth Wakefield. I think The Hepworth Prize for Sculpture is a palpable expression of the greatness of Barbara Hepworth as a sculptor. I love her enduring and inspiring art.'

The Hepworth Sculpture Prize: David Medalla (2016/2016) by David MedallaThe Hepworth Wakefield

David Medalla, Installation view (2016/2017) by David MedallaThe Hepworth Wakefield

David Medalla, Installation view (2016/2017) by David MedallaThe Hepworth Wakefield

David Medalla, Installation view (2016/2017) by David MedallaThe Hepworth Wakefield

The Sculpture Prize: Award Ceremony (2016/2017) by Eve HelenaThe Hepworth Wakefield

The winner

The Hepworth Prize for Sculpture 2016 winner was announced at a special prize dinner in November 2016.

The Sculpture Prize: Winner, Eve Helena, 2016/2017, From the collection of: The Hepworth Wakefield
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Helen Marten won the prize, proposing to share the £30,000 award between all four nominated artists.

The Hepworth Sculpture Prize (2016/2016) by The Hepworth WakefieldThe Hepworth Wakefield

The Hepworth Sculpture Prize: Visitors' Responses (2016/2016) by Visitors to the Hepworth WakefieldThe Hepworth Wakefield

Over the opening weekend a video booth captured visitors' responses to the Prize.

During the exhibition, visitors were also asked to vote for the People's Choice Award, the winner of which was Phyllida Barlow.

Credits: Story

The Hepworth Wakefield

The Hepworth Prize for Sculpture 2016

The nomination panel
- Katrina Brown, Director of Common Guild
- Jennifer Higgie, Co-editor of Frieze
- Lisa Le Feuvre, Head of Sculpture Studies at Henry Moore Institute
- Sally Tallant, Director of Liverpool Biennial
- Bart van der Heide, Chief Curator at Stedelijk Museum

The judging panel
- Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, Director of Castello di Rivoli Museo d’Arte Contemporanea and GAM Galleria Civica d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Torino
- David Chipperfield, architect and designer of The Hepworth Wakefield
- Sheika Hoor al-Qasimi, President Sharjah Art Foundation
- Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, President of The Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, collector and patron of the arts
- Alastair Sooke, art critic and broadcaster

The Hepworth Prize for Sculpture supporters
- Linda Bennett
- David Liddiment
- David Roberts

Supporting Sponsors
Mtec
Litestructures

Media Partner
Yorkshire Post

Travel Partner
Grand Central Rail

Exhibit created by
The Hepworth Wakefield staff
Special thanks to Iheanyichukwu Onwuegbucha

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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