The gallery is situated on a man-made island formed by the River Calder and the canal.
Barbara Hepworth's 'The Family of Man' is a permanent highlight of the collection.
The gallery's concrete walls were cast in-situ using a bespoke mixture containing local aggregate to reflect the area's industrial heritage.
The building was awarded the RIBA Award for Architecture in 2012.
The site hosts a print collection including works by Ben Nicholson and Henry Moore.
The gallery garden features over 30,000 perennial plants and shrubs.
It is the largest purpose-built exhibition space in the United Kingdom outside of London.
The trapezoidal design was influenced by the jagged roofline of local industrial mills.
The Hepworth Wakefield is a purpose-built contemporary art gallery located on the banks of the River Calder. Designed by architect David Chipperfield, the structure comprises ten trapezoidal, interlocking blocks of pigmented concrete. It houses a significant collection of sculptures by Barbara Hepworth, who was born in Wakefield. The gallery also features an extensive collection of British art from the 16th century to the present day. Rotating temporary exhibitions focus on international modern and contemporary works. The building features large, floor-to-ceiling windows that provide views of the adjacent Calder and Hebble Navigation canal. The site includes the Hepworth Riverside Gallery Garden, designed by landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith. It serves as a regional anchor for the cultural regeneration of West Yorkshire.
From the opposite river bank, capturing the reflection of the trapezoidal concrete volumes in the water.
Walk the perimeter trail along the river to view the exterior architecture from multiple angles.
Check the temporary exhibition schedule online in advance, as certain gallery spaces rotate frequently.
Allow time to visit the dedicated research library if you are interested in deep-dive art history archives.
Assuming all galleries are open simultaneously, as spaces are occasionally closed for the installation of new exhibitions.
Closed on Mondays, except for bank holidays.
Photography for personal use is generally permitted without flash, but specific temporary exhibition rooms may restrict recording devices.
