18 October 2025 – 18 January 2026

Firstsite and The Hepworth Wakefield present Into Abstraction: Modern British Art and the Landscape, an exhibition exploring the evolution of abstract art during periods of sweeping social change during the last century.

Spanning the 1920s to the 1970s, the exhibition traces how abstract art developed across five decades: from early experiments in colour and form, through the influence of Surrealism, to the impact of war and the rise of industrial Britain. The exhibition brings works by some of the most influential artists of the 20th century to the Essex gallery, including Barbara Hepworth (1903–1975), Henry Moore (1898–1986), Duncan Grant (1885–1978), and L.S. Lowry (1887–1976). Together, their works offer an in-depth look at how these artists interpreted and influenced abstract art in response to the environments and times in which they lived.

Barbara Hepworth, Mincarlo, Three Curves with Strings, 1971. On long loan to Wakefield Council Permanent Art Collection (The Hepworth Wakefield) from the Hepworth Estate

This exhibition, drawn from the Wakefield Art Gallery Collection, reflects Hepworth’s belief that: “The language of colour and form is universal and not one for a special class… it is a thought which gives the same life, the same expansion, the same universal freedom to everyone.”.

For Hepworth and her peers, abstraction was not an escape from reality but a means to explore essential relationships between people, places, and nature. Using formal qualities such as colour, shape, and line, artists sought to express both personal identity and collective experience, while offering ways to comprehend an ever-changing world.

John Piper, Entrance to Fonthill, 1940. Wakefield Council Permanent Art Collection (The Hepworth Wakefield).

Divided into five distinct sections, Into Abstraction considers landscape in relation regionalism, class, sexuality, psychological anxiety, and industry. Bringing together seventy-five works — fifty-five drawn from the national tour and twenty presented exclusively at Firstsite – the exhibition reveals how artists used abstraction to offer insights and solace during periods of social and political turmoil. The exhibition not only emphasises the enduring power of abstraction but also demonstrates the dynamic interplay between the artform the dramatic cultural shifts of the mid-20th century

Among the highlights are works by Roger Fry (1866-1934), Emmy Bridgewater (1906-1999), Elizabeth Frink (1930-1993), Patrick Heron (1920-1999), Prunella Clough (1919-1999), Barbara Hepworth (1903-1975), Henry Moore (1898-1986), Duncan Grant (1885-1978), and L.S. Lowry (1887-1976), and many other leading figures in British Modern art.

Adrian Heath, Grey and Black, 1958. Wakefield Council Permanent Art Collection (The Hepworth Wakefield). Bequeathed by Charles Lindsay Sutherland, 2001

Sally Shaw MBE, Director of Firstsite says: “Into Abstraction offers a powerful way to view 20th-century British history through art, showing how artists such as Barbara Hepworth, Elizabeth Frink, and L.S. Lowry used imagination to respond to the world around them, revealing hidden stories and perspectives. We are delighted to present such a wide range of brilliant and influential artists, and grateful to The Hepworth Wakefield for helping us bring these important works to Essex.”

She adds: “This exhibition underlines the vital role art plays in our lives. In times of upheaval, it helps us express complex emotions, make sense of a chaotic world and connect ideas with feelings. Today, as we face our own unsettled times, Into Abstraction reminds us why art matters — offering meaning, connection and, above all, hope.”

Into Abstraction: Modern British Art and the Landscape is organised by The Hepworth Wakefield in collaboration with Firstsite and is completely FREE to see.

Visitors can enjoy an exclusive first look at the exhibition at Firstsite’s Autumn exhibition opening celebration at 6:30pm- 10pm on Friday 17 October 2025.

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