Barbara Hepworth Sculpture Garden

Barbara Hepworth lived at Trewyn Studio from 1949 until her death in 1975. In her will she asked the executors to consider the possibility of turning the studio into a permanent exhibition of her works. She said that she envisaged “small sculptures, carvings and drawings…on the first floor… my working studio being shown as closely as possible as it has been in my lifetime… and a few large works… in the garden.”

The garden contains three large stone carvings and a representative group of eighteen bronzes. Hepworth’s sculptures were among the first completely non-representational works. However, they never lack human inspiration and significance, demonstrating the relationships between man and woman, mother and child and people to nature.

During my visit to the museum, a harpist was playing in the garden, amongst the sculptures. The music and tranquillity of the garden enticed people away from the hectic streets of St Ives and allowed them a space to relax.