Hepworth and Nicholson: The Hampstead Studio Photographs

6 June – 4 October 2026
Project Space, Floor 2

Step behind the scenes of Barbara Hepworth and Ben Nicholson’s London Studio

Coinciding with the major exhibition The Joseph Hage Aaronson & Bremen Exhibition: Hepworth in Colour in the Courtauld’s Denise Coates Exhibition Galleries, this display brings together a remarkable group of photographs of Barbara Hepworth (1903–1975) and Ben Nicholson’s (1894–1982) shared London studio at 7 The Mall, Hampstead, taken in the early 1930s by the fine art photographer Paul Laib (1869–1958).

The photographs, which are held in the Courtauld’s collection, are among the most evocative and iconic studio images taken in Britain during the 20th century. As well as portraits and exquisite photographs of individual artworks, the images show their studio populated with sculptures, paintings and prints, carefully arranged side by side with carving tools, plants and other objects.

This display will offer a captivating insight into Hepworth and Nicholson’s London studio environment, which they occupied until moving to St Ives, Cornwall in 1939, and which was the setting for a period of intense collaboration and experimentation for the two artists. It will also shine new light on Paul Laib, who photographed the work of many eminent British artists in the first half of the twentieth century.

This display is included in the Permanent Collection or Permanent Collection + Exhibition ticket.