A campaign to return Barbara Hepworth's sculpture "Rock Form" (1964) to the Mander Centre in Wolverhampton, UK, is gaining momentum. The sculpture, valued at £1 million, was removed from the shopping centre in June 2024 during a redevelopment. Campaigners argue it was originally offered to the previous owner at cost price on the condition of public display, and they fear current owners—the Royal Bank of Scotland and Delancey—may sell it privately.
The campaign matters because it highlights tensions between public art access and private property rights. The sculpture had been a landmark in Wolverhampton since 1968, and its removal has sparked community outcry. The outcome could set a precedent for how publicly displayed artworks are handled during commercial redevelopments, especially when original purchase agreements implied permanent public access.