Paul Feiler, Newlyn © The Estate of Paul Feiler and The Redfern Gallery, London / Bridgeman Images. Photo: Jerry Hardman-Jones
The Burton at Bideford and The Hepworth Wakefield present a new exhibition examining the intersection of abstraction and landscape in British art from the 1920s to the early 1970s.
The exhibition draws on The Hepworth Wakefield’s extensive holdings of modern art while also spotlighting key works by North Devon artists, and explores how artists used abstraction during periods of social upheaval to engage with the natural world and human experience.
For Barbara Hepworth, “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.” Hepworth and her peers viewed abstraction not as an escape from reality but as a means to address psychological and emotional turmoil. Through the use of formal qualities such as colour, shape, and line, artists sought to comprehend their intricate connections to nature and their personal and collective identities.
‘Into Abstraction’ considers landscape in relation to themes such as regionalism, class, sexuality, psychological anxiety, and industry.
Barbara Hepworth, ‘Mincarlo, Three Curves with Strings (1971). On long loan to Wakefield Council Permanent Art Collection, The Hepworth Wakefield
Created during times of national crisis, these works demonstrate how abstraction offers redemption when realism falls short. As we navigate our own unsettled times, this exhibition underscores the importance of abstraction in understanding the world we live in.
The exhibition includes works by notable artists such as Roger Fry, Duncan Grant, Henry Moore, Emmy Bridgewater, Elisabeth Frink, Patrick Heron, Barbara Hepworth, Prunella Clough, L.S. Lowry, and many others.
The exhibition is organised into five sections:
- Early Abstraction and Modern British Landscapes: 1920s
- Terrains of the Mind – Surrealism: 1930s
- Neo-Romantic Landscapes: 1940s – 1950s
- Nature Abstracted – Conflict and its Aftermath: 1940s – 1950s
- Urban and Rural Industry: 1950s – 1960s
Each section highlights how artists responded to their times, using abstraction to offer insights and solace during periods of national crisis. The exhibition illustrates the enduring power of abstraction to help us understand and navigate the complexities of our world.
‘Into Abstraction: Modern British Art and the Landscape’ is organised by The Hepworth Wakefield in collaboration with The Burton, and runs from 19 July to 14 September 2025. Free entry. Join us at the gallery for the Launch Event on Saturday 19 July, 2pm–4pm.
With support from
