Art Galleries and Museums in St Ives
Discover exciting art galleries in St Ives displaying paintings and sculpture from traditional to modern contemporary.
A Quality of Light
It is no accident that St Ives is one of the few places in Britain to have its own school of painting.
In the late 19th century the town came to be popular with a group of well-known artists such as Whistler who loved the purity of the light and the warmth of the climate.
Following them were artists whose names constitute a roll call of British art in the 20th century. The primitive painter Alfred Wallace, the potter Bernard Leach, the sculptor Barbara Hepworth and painters such as Patrick Herron.
The Leach Pottery
Founded in 1920 by Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada, the Leach Pottery, St Ives, is among the most respected and influential potteries in the world. During your visit, you can explore the 100-year-old pottery; the clay room, the throwing room with kick wheels and Japanese climbing kiln.
Read more
The Tate
With a changing series of exhibitions throughout the year the Tate Gallery and Barbara Hepworth Gardens are a must for visitors to St Ives.
Guests staying with St Ives Holidays can save 50% off entry to The Tate, St Ives (Barbara Hepworth Gallery and Garden). Simply log-in to your account (or create one) and you'll find it listed as a Holiday Extra!
At the Tate Gallery you can explore the history of modern art in St Ives with works by artist such as Ben Nicholson, Peter Lanyon and Barbara Hepworth to Piet Mondrian and Naum Gabo.
The Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden is based at Trewyn studios where she worked from from 1949 until her death in 1975. The museum displays sculptures in bronze, stone and wood along with paintings, drawings and archive material.
Read more
The School of Painting
Since its creation in 1938 the St Ives school of painting has run courses for artists of all levels in its historic buildings.
Read more
St Ives Museum
The museum contains a varied collection relating to the local town including exhibitions on fishing, farming and mining.
The musem is located in Wheal Dream just a few metres around the coast from Smeaton's Pier.
Open Easter to end of October half term.
