Hepworth Wakefield

"Halima Cassell: 25 Years of Carving" documents the extraordinary breadth of forms and materials in the artist’s practice over a quarter century. The publication delineates the extensive influences Cassell has drawn on over her career to date – from the architecture and design of various global cultures during her travels to her own biographical narratives growing up in the North of England. The book shows how her deft synthesis of art, craft, design and architecture has culminated in her characteristic and recognizable style. The publication is essential reading for anyone looking not only to better understand the artist’s body of work but to comprehend the evolution of her distinctive carving style, mesmerising use of pattern and meticulous approach to materials.   

Cassell has had a long-standing relationship with The Hepworth Wakefield. Since she was commissioned in 2007-8 to make a new work in response to the David Chipperfield’s architectural design of the gallery, Cassell’s work has regularly been on display much to the delight of our audiences. In 2022 we were thrilled to acquire Fan into the collection and in 2023, Cassell’s towering outdoor work Fan Construction was installed in The Hepworth Wakefield Garden to complement a further public artwork that will feature as part of the Wakefield Sculpture Trail.