The Hepworth Wakefield and Art Fund have successfully raised £3.8 million to acquire Barbara Hepworth’s sculpture *Sculpture with Colour (Oval Form) Pale Blue and Red* (1943). The wood and string artwork, previously in private hands and rarely seen publicly, was sold at Christie’s in London last March for £3.5 million. A temporary export bar imposed by the UK government gave the museum time to raise funds, with the deadline set for August 27. The funding came from over 2,800 donations and major grants, including £1.89 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and £750,000 from the Art Fund, along with private support.
The acquisition ensures the sculpture becomes part of the UK’s national collection and will be permanently displayed at the Hepworth Wakefield in the artist’s hometown, enabling the museum to present a fuller narrative of Hepworth’s career. The campaign’s success highlights the power of public and private collaboration to preserve important artworks for future generations. The sculpture, created during World War II, is one of only a few wooden carvings Hepworth made in the 1940s, adding historical and artistic significance to the acquisition.