Barbara Hepworth: Pioneer of Modern Sculpture Barbara Hepworth, DBE (10 January 1903 – 20 May 1975), was an English artist and sculptor who stands as one of the most influential figures in twentieth-century British art. Born Jocelyn Barbara Hepworth in Wakefield, Yorkshire, her formative years were marked by a profound connection to the landscape—specifically the rugged beauty of the West Riding hills—which would become a recurring motif throughout her artistic career. This early exposure instilled within her an appreciation for organic forms and textures that would inform her distinctive ap…