Lakeland Arts is proud to announce the return of Oval Form (Trezion) (1962–63), an iconic bronze sculpture by Dame Barbara Hepworth, to Abbot Hall Art Gallery on 7 March. The reinstatement marks a significant moment for both the charity and the Kendal community, returning a familiar and much-loved public sculpture to pride of place. This has been made possible thanks to the generous support of the Henry Moore Foundation.
The sculpture, which stood outside Abbot Hall since 1966, was removed from display in 2021 to go on tour as part of the major retrospective exhibition Barbara Hepworth: Art & Life. Oval Form travelled to the Hepworth Wakefield, and then onto the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, where it was seen by tens of thousands of people. As part of the exhibition tour, the sculpture has been expertly cleaned and conserved by specialists, and Lakeland Arts has worked to secure the support needed to return the sculpture to public view in a way that ensures the work can be enjoyed by future generations.
Barbara Hepworth (1903–1975) is one of the most important British sculptors from the 20th century. Born in Wakefield, she studied at Leeds School of Art alongside Henry Moore before continuing her training at the Royal College of Art in London. She later settled in St Ives, Cornwall, where the landscape and coastline became a lasting source of inspiration for her work.
Abbot Hall is home to an outstanding collection of works by artists associated with the St Ives School, with Hepworth at its heart. The collection includes key sculptures such as Torso and Moon Form, alongside Ben Nicholson’s portrait of Hepworth, offering visitors deeper insight into her life, practice and artistic legacy.
The sculpture’s return will be marked with a public unveiling and talk at Abbot Hall on 7 March. The talk, led by Dr Abi Shapiro, Curator at The Hepworth Wakefield, will use Oval Form (Trezion) to explore Hepworth’s innovative approach to form, material and abstraction, inviting audiences to rediscover the sculpture in its long-standing home.
Niall Hodson, Keeper of Collections at Lakeland Arts, states:
“Barbara Hepworth’s Oval Form is an emblem of both Abbot Hall and Kendal: a beautiful, significant work of sculpture that has adorned the gallery, and the town, for 60 years. The sculpture was acquired by Abbot Hall’s first director, Helen Kapp, who purchased it directly from Barbara Hepworth at her studio in St Ives. It gives you a sense of the ambition that Kapp, and the early supporters of the Gallery, had for Abbot Hall from its foundation in 1962.
Abbot Hall has gone on to exhibit the best of modern and contemporary art over the ensuing 60 years, with important exhibitions by artists like Celia Paul, Paula Rego, Euan Uglow – and, currently, Turner Prize-winner Simon Starling. We continue to do our utmost to bring world-class artists and artworks to Kendal for residents and visitors to enjoy.”
Amie Fletcher, Development Manager at Lakeland Arts, says:
“We are delighted to have secured the support of the Henry Moore Foundation to bring Oval Form (Trezion) back to Abbot Hall. Its return is not only about reinstating a beloved work of art; it is about reconnecting with our community and offering everyone the chance to experience one of the most important artists of our time once more. This moment marks a meaningful step in strengthening the bond between Lakeland Arts and the people of Kendal, allowing us to celebrate our shared cultural heritage together.”
The reinstatement forms part of Lakeland Arts’ wider plans to reimagine Abbot Hall. Recent support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England’s Museum Renewal Fund has kickstarted a project to develop detailed plans for the gallery’s future; which will look to improve access, enhance the surrounding grounds and ensure Abbot Hall remains a welcoming and inspiring cultural space for many years to come.
Lakeland Arts is extremely grateful to the Henry Moore Foundation for their generous donation, which has made the return of Oval Form (Trezion) to Abbot Hall possible. Their support has enabled a vital work from the collection to be shared once again with the local community and beyond.
