Inside the major Leeds exhibition celebrating the visionary who inspired Hepworth and Moore
The artist behind Yorkshire’s sculptural icons in spotlight in Leeds
Beautiful sculptures created by a noted artist who helped shape Yorkshire luminaries Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore have gone on display in Leeds.
Arp: The Plasters has opened at Leeds Art Gallery and celebrates the recent acquisition of a group of plaster sculptures by French-German sculptor, painter and poet Jean (Hans) Arp (1886-1966), a gift from the Stiftung Arp, e.V. to Leeds Museums and Galleries and The Hepworth Wakefield.
Arp began creating sculptures in the early 1930s, with plaster as his chosen medium. His plasters took on a variety of different functions: they were not only used for bronze casting, but were also exhibited, and placed in his studio as inspiration and as raw material.
Renowned sculptors, including Yorkshire’s own Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth, were inspired by their visits to Arp’s studio in Meudon during the 1930s.
Following Arp’s death in 1966, his second wife Marguerite Arp-Hagenbach began systematically donating plasters to international museums, a donation programme which is now being continued by the Stiftung Arp e.V.
Leeds Museums and Galleries recently acquired a group of 10 Arp plaster sculptures, which will be displayed together with a group gifted to The Hepworth Wakefield. The exhibition will run until October 4.
The new show is part of a Summer of Sculpture at the gallery which will see stunning works by world-renowned artists displayed to visitors
Coun Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for economy, said: “Leeds Art Gallery’s reputation as a world-renowned centre for contemporary sculpture continues to grow and prestigious events like this emphasise just how significant the collection there is.
“Most importantly it gives us the opportunity to invite visitors to experience the gallery and city in a new way and to learn more about why Leeds is such a vibrant and exciting cultural destination.”