Henry Moore Institute

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Henry Moore Institute We're all about sculpture, with exhibitions, events, research library, archive and shop, in the centre of Leeds.

Our changing programme of historical, modern and contemporary exhibitions and events, encourage thinking about what sculpture is, how it is made and the artists who make it. As part of the Henry Moore Foundation, we are a hub for sculpture, connecting a global network of artists and scholars, continuing research into the art form and ensuring that sculpture is accessible and celebrated by a wide audience.

It’s your last chance to catch our library display ‘Sophie Taeuber-Arp: A Legacy in Print’ before it closes this Saturda...
21/10/2026

It’s your last chance to catch our library display ‘Sophie Taeuber-Arp: A Legacy in Print’ before it closes this Saturday (24 October 2026).

Sophie Taeuber-Arp (1889–1943) was a multi-faceted artist whose work encompassed painting, sculpture, works on paper, textiles, dance, costume and set design, interior design and architecture.

The display traces her legacy through rare books and exhibitions catalogues drawn from the library including the 1943 publication ‘Les derniers 9 dessins de Sophie Taeuber-Arp’ (The Last 9 Drawings by Sophie Taeuber-Arp) which reproduces nine of her ‘geometric constructions’, and the 1948 commemorative publication ‘Sophie Taeuber-Arp’ which ultimately became a catalogue raisonné.

Find the Research Library on the first floor of the Institute. It's free to visit and we're open Tuesday – Friday 10am – 5pm and Saturday 1–5pm.

Looking for free half term activities? Need something to warm you up before Light Night Leeds? Join us next Thursday (29...
20/10/2026

Looking for free half term activities? Need something to warm you up before Light Night Leeds?

Join us next Thursday (29 October 2026) to create small spiral sculptures from felted cloth, wire and colourful threads with artist Jane Claire Wilson

First visit our exhibition Sagarika Sundaram: Reservoir and then create forms inspired by the materials and colours in the galleries.

This family-friendly workshop is free and no booking is required, just drop in to The Studio between 11am and 4pm. Suitable for families with children aged 5+ and we encourage creativity in all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the workshop.

19/10/2026

Looking ahead to our next Art Social in November.

Art Social No 18
Soft Sculptures
Wednesday 11 November
16.30 - 18.30
Henry Moore Institute

Art Socials are informal, sociable sessions for teachers and art educators run by Leeds Art Gallery and henrymooreinstitute

We aim to provide a space to be creative, collaborative and experimental, giving you inspiration to take back into your settings.

We hope you can join us for a hands-on session exploring the ideas and materials of Sagarika Sundaram whose exhibition ‘Reservoir’ is at Henry Moore Institute until 10 January 2027. Sundaram uses felted wool to make monumental sculptures which explore wool’s strength, weight, texture and ‘clothness’. We’ll consider her work from a variety of perspectives: what is soft sculpture? How do we experience it? How can it add to our understanding of three-dimensional art?

After spending time up close to artworks to develop our sculptural thinking, we will head to the Studio at Henry Moore Institute to experiment with wool in both its raw and felted state, considering the role that scale and maquettes play in the development of soft sculpture.

Booking in advance via email
[email protected]
Or via eventbrite link in our bio

📷 from an Art Social in 2019 during Yorkshire Sculpture International at Leeds Art Gallery with ‘three of four’ (2019) by Ayse Erkmen visible in Central Court.

Image shows people sitting in a semi-circle on stools in the gallery listening to a talk with sculptures they have created visible in the foreground.

Find out more about our current exhibition Sagarika Sundaram: Reservoir by joining our curator's tour next Thursday (22 ...
16/10/2026

Find out more about our current exhibition Sagarika Sundaram: Reservoir by joining our curator's tour next Thursday (22 October 2026) at 6pm.

Led by Laurence Sillars, Head of Henry Moore Institute and curator of the exhibition, the tour will explore the distinctive and monumental felt sculpture made for Reservoir.

Places are free, but limited, so book now to avoid disappointment, via the link in our bio or go straight to: https://henry-moore.org/whats-on/curators-tour-of-sagarika-sundaram-reservoir

Images:
Details of Sagarika Sundaram, Dancer 2026 in the exhibition Reservoir until 10 January 2027. Courtesy the artist and Alison Jacques, London. Photos: Rob Harris and Minyung Im

13/10/2026
Booking now - Sagarika Sundaram: Reservoir - free exhibition eventsCurator’s tourThursday 22 October 2026, 6–7pmHalf ter...
09/10/2026

Booking now - Sagarika Sundaram: Reservoir - free exhibition events

Curator’s tour
Thursday 22 October 2026, 6–7pm

Half term drop-in workshop
Textile Sculpture with Jane Claire Wilson
Thursday 29 October 2026, 11am–4:30pm

British Sign Language tour and creative workshop
Saturday 14 November 2026, 11am–2pm

Gallery Babies: Fuzzy Forms
Thursday 26 November 2026, 11am–12:30pm & 2–3:30pm

Touch Tour and creative workshop
Monday 7 December 2026, 1–3pm

Introductory tours
Every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, 11am & 2pm
No need to book

Find out more and book your free place via the link in our bio or go straight to https://henry-moore.org/whats-on/sagarika-sundaram-reservoir/

Image:
Artist Sagarika Sundaram stands with her work 'Glossolalia' 2026 in her exhibition 'Reservoir' at Henry Moore Institute. Courtesy the artist, Henry Moore Institute and Alison Jacques, London. Photo: Rob Harris

07/10/2026

You've come to uni in Leeds, have settled in and are ready to do some work...Did you know that Henry Moore Institute is THE place to come for all things sculpture?

You can browse books, journals and ephemera spanning the history of sculpture from ancient times to the present day in the UK's only dedicated sculpture research library.

Discover our beautiful reading rooms in the centre of Leeds which house:
- Exhibition catalogues from around the world
- Books on theory and the processes and materials of sculpture
- Artists' books
- An audio-visual library of exhibition images, conference recordings, artist interviews and documentaries
- Art magazines and journals
- Access to research databases
- Artists' files of ephemeral items, press cuttings, private view cards etc

Research heaven!

Head upstairs to the first floor of the Institute, complete a simple registration and then you're free to explore. Our expert librarian are always on hand to help you find what you need.

The Sculpture Research Library welcomes all, is free to access and there's no need to book.
We're open Tuesday – Friday, 10am–5pm, Saturdays 1–5pm

The first work you encounter in our new exhibition Sagarika Sundaram: Reservoir is Blue Mountain 2026. At three metres h...
05/10/2026

The first work you encounter in our new exhibition Sagarika Sundaram: Reservoir is Blue Mountain 2026. At three metres high and seven metres wide, you can walk around the sculpture and approach its openings.

In Blue Mountain Sundaram is exploring her interest in 'clothness' - the way the cloth hangs, drapes and falls under its own weight.

Made of felt, the work feels both soft and monumental. Its coarse, pebbled surface is made from naturally brown and white wools, over which blue dye moves in an elemental sweep. Sundaram compares its texture to an elephant’s knee: organic, leathery and deeply wrinkled.

Come and explore Blue Mountain for yourself.
The exhibition is open Tuesday – Sunday 10am–5pm, until 10 January 2027, free entry.

Images:
Sagarika Sundaram, Blue Mountain 2026. Courtesy the artist and Alison Jacques, London. Photos: Rob Harris and Minyung Im

“When I look at the work, I see my hand. I see my soul in a way, as if a part of myself is living in the fabric.”Find ou...
02/10/2026

“When I look at the work, I see my hand. I see my soul in a way, as if a part of myself is living in the fabric.”

Find out more about our new exhibition Reservoir in the article Sagarika Sundaram: Taking Wool Seriously - an interview with artist Sagarika Sundaram in

Read via the link in our bio or go straight to https://www.theartjournal.com/articles/sagarika-sundaram-taking-wool-seriously

Image: Artist Sagarika Sundaram sits with her work Blue Mountain 2026 in her exhibition Reservoir at Henry Moore Institute. Courtesy the artist and Alison Jacques, London. Photo: Rob Harris

Booking nowJoin us on Thursday 22 October 2026, 6pm for the curator’s tour of our new exhibition Sagarika Sundaram: Rese...
01/10/2026

Booking now

Join us on Thursday 22 October 2026, 6pm for the curator’s tour of our new exhibition Sagarika Sundaram: Reservoir.

Tickets are free, but limited so book now to avoid disappointment. Available via the link in our bio or go straight to https://henry-moore.org/whats-on/curators-tour-of-sagarika-sundaram-reservoir

Image:
Installation view of Sagarika Sundaram: Reservoir at Henry Moore Institute until 10 January 2027, showing a detail of Rope 2026.
Courtesy the artist and Alison Jacques, London. Photo: Rob Harris.

Address

74 The Headrow
Leeds
LS13AH

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

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