The Hepworth Prize for Sculpture

The first-ever Hepworth Prize for Sculpture showcases works by shortlisted artists Phyllida Barlow, Steven Claydon, Helen Marten and David Medalla. Reflecting on the expansive field of sculpture - from kinetic sculptures and experimental and sensory installations - they each have made significant contributions to the field by challenging our perception of what sculpture is and what it can do.

Named in honour of Wakefield-born artist Barbara Hepworth, the prize recognises artist of all backgrounds and stages of their careers and awards the final winner with £30,000.

The winner of the first-ever Hepworth Prize for Sculpture will be announced at an awards ceremony at The Hepworth Wakefield on Thursday 17 November 2016. The show will continue throughout the winter season. Have a look at the four shortlisted artists and judge for yourself:

Steven Claydon, b. 1969 in London

Steven Claydon works with solid materials that are often not what they appear to be but also immaterial entities like sound, smell and light. At the Hepworth, he’s displayed a series of sculptures and site-specific installations of repurposed cultural artefacts - from citronella-scented yellow curtains to squid-attracting blue LED lightbulbs, rubberised magnetic sheets and low-level ambient sound - to create unique catalysing episodes that make us question our environment.

Steven Claydon. Image courtesy: the artist. Photo: Louisa Buck

Helen Marten, b. 1984 in Macclesfield

Helen’s work is a dense accumulation of handcrafted objects, wood, ceramic, metal, leather plastic and fabrics and found object that draw their viewers into the tactile word. Helen Marten, who’s also been shortlisted for the 2016 Turner Prize is interested in how people build relationships to objects.

Helen Marten. Photo: Juergen Teller. Image courtesy: the artist and Sadie Coles HQ

David Medalla, b. 1942 in the Philippines

David Medalla’s work is based on a web of memories, travels, evolving relationships, and often use rhythm, systems and objects found in the real world. Displayed at the Hepworth are among other works, two auto-creative, living sculptures – a new version of his foamy Cloud Canyons (1964-2016), and Sand Machine, Bahagari (1963-2016, a moving work made of sand, shell, necklace and bamboo.

David Medalla, ‘Mirages’© Adam Nankervis, another vacant space

Phyllida Barlow, b. 1944 in Newcastle

Phyllida Barlow’s monumental installation has taken over the Hepworth’s architecture. The space-invading screestage is a reconstruction of a work created in 2013 for Des Moines Art Center, Iowa, shown in the UK for the first time. It creates a heightened awareness among the visitor of their surroundings. You are invited to fully immerse yourself in the installation - walk through, reach up and across.

Phyllida Barlow. Photo: ©Thierry Bal. Courtesy Phyllida Barlow, Hauser & Wirth and Modern Painters

The exhibition is open through 17 February 2017. The winner of first £30,000 Hepworth Prize for Sculpture will be announced on Thursday 17 November 2016. You, too, can cast your vote for your winner here or while you're at the gallery. The People’s Choice Award will announced at the end of the exhibition.

The Hepworth Wakefield
@HepworthGallery
Tues – Sun 10am - 5pm; Closed Mondays, Free Entry

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