Henry Moore Foundation

Henry Moore Foundation
Name	Henry Moore Foundation
Founded	0 1977
Founder	Henry Moore
Location	Perry Green, Hertfordshire
Key people	Mary Moore, Timothy Llewellyn
Focus	Sculpture, Modern art
Website	https://www.henry-moore.org

Henry Moore Foundation is a registered charity established by the renowned British sculptor Henry Moore in 1977. Its primary purpose is to advance public education in the fine arts, particularly by preserving and promoting Moore's artistic legacy. The foundation manages an extensive collection of his sculptures, drawings, and archival materials, operating from his former home and studios at Perry Green, Hertfordshire. It supports contemporary artistic practice through grants, exhibitions, and research initiatives at institutions like the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds.

History

The foundation was created by Henry Moore to protect his work and ensure its accessibility following his death, with his daughter Mary Moore playing a key role in its early development. It was formally established as a charitable trust, with its inaugural chairman being the art historian and curator David Sylvester. Following Moore's death in 1986, the foundation assumed full responsibility for his estate, including his studios, the contents of his Hoglands home, and the surrounding landscape at Perry Green, Hertfordshire. Under subsequent directors like Timothy Llewellyn, it expanded its remit beyond stewardship to include active support for contemporary sculpture, notably through the founding of the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds in 1982, a partnership with Leeds City Council and Leeds Museums and Galleries.

Collections and archives

The foundation cares for the world's largest collection of works by Henry Moore, encompassing thousands of sculptures in materials like bronze, stone, and wood, alongside a vast array of graphic works, maquettes, and plaster models. Its extensive archive includes Moore's personal correspondence, photographs by figures like John Hedgecoe, sketchbooks, and records of his major commissions such as the UNESCO Reclining Figure in Paris and the Lincoln Center Reclining Figure in New York City. This repository is a vital resource for scholars studying 20th-century art, modernism, and the history of British sculpture, with items regularly loaned to major institutions like the Tate, the British Museum, and the Yale Center for British Art.

Perry Green estate

The foundation's headquarters at Perry Green, Hertfordshire encompasses Moore's former home, Hoglands, his numerous studios, and over 70 acres of landscaped grounds where many of his large-scale sculptures are permanently sited. The estate functions as a museum and study center, with key spaces including the Aisled Barn exhibition gallery and the Moore Studio, preserved to reflect his working environment. The grounds themselves, which Moore carefully shaped, are an integral part of the collection, featuring iconic works like the Sheep Piece and the Large Reclining Figure within a natural setting. Guided tours and seasonal openings allow the public to experience the artist's work in the context of its creation, complementing the foundation's exhibition program in London and at the Henry Moore Institute.

Exhibitions and loans

The foundation organizes and contributes to major exhibitions worldwide, from retrospective shows at the Royal Academy of Arts and the Tate Britain to thematic displays at the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Art Institute of Chicago. It maintains an active international loans program, placing Moore's work in contexts ranging from the Kunsthalle Würth in Germany to sculpture parks like the Hakone Open-Air Museum in Japan. Collaborations with institutions such as the Fitzwilliam Museum and the Ashmolean Museum facilitate scholarly exhibitions, while the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds presents a continuous program of historical and contemporary sculpture shows, often featuring artists like Barbara Hepworth or Anthony Caro.

Publications and research

The foundation is a leading publisher of scholarly works on Henry Moore and modern sculpture, producing detailed catalogues raisonnés, exhibition catalogues, and research papers. It supports academic research through fellowships and grants, often in partnership with universities like the University of Leeds and the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art. Its publishing arm has produced definitive studies on Moore's graphic work and his relationships with patrons such as Kenneth Clark, while also contributing to broader art historical discourse on topics like post-war British art and public sculpture. The foundation's library and archive at Perry Green, Hertfordshire are essential destinations for researchers from institutions worldwide.

Governance and funding

The foundation is governed by a board of trustees, which has included notable figures from the arts such as Alan Bowness and Richard Calvocoressi. It operates as an independent charitable trust, funded through an endowment from Moore's estate, income from exhibitions, publications, and licensing, alongside philanthropic support. A significant portion of its resources is dedicated to a grants program that supports artists, curators, and institutions, including awards like the Henry Moore Fellowship hosted at Bristol School of Art. The foundation also collaborates with public bodies like Arts Council England and maintains its core operations at Perry Green, Hertfordshire and the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds.

Category:Art foundations Category:Charities based in Hertfordshire Category:Henry Moore