Helen Kapp facts for kids

Helen Babette Kapp (born December 17, 1901 – died October 13, 1978) was a talented British artist. She started her career as a painter and illustrator. Later, she became a very important curator and director of art galleries.

Meet Helen Kapp: Artist and Curator

Helen Kapp was born in Hampstead, London. She grew up in an artistic family. Her father was German, and her mother was American. Her older brother, Edmond Xavier Kapp, was also an artist.

Helen studied art at two famous schools in London: the Slade School of Fine Art and the Central School of Art and Design. She then finished her art studies in Paris, France.

Helen's Artworks and Exhibitions

Helen Kapp worked with different art forms. She painted using both oils and watercolors. She was also an illustrator and created wood engravings. Her art was shown in many important places.

She exhibited her work at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. She also showed her art with groups like the London Group and the Artists' International Association. Helen was part of exhibitions by the Society of Wood Engravers and the Society of Women Artists.

Her first solo art show was in London in 1946. She also took part in an exhibition in Haifa, Israel, organized by the British Council. Helen drew pictures for several books. She also wrote her own book in 1975 called Enjoying Pictures.

Becoming a Gallery Director

In 1951, Helen Kapp started a new role. She became the director of the Wakefield Art Gallery. This gallery is now known as the Hepworth Wakefield. She worked there until 1961.

After that, she became the first director of the Abbot Hall Art Gallery in Kendal. As a director, Helen was one of the first people to notice and buy art from new, modern artists. She helped bring attention to artists like Joan Eardley, Anne Redpath, Sheila Fell, and Alan Davie.

Helen retired in 1967 and moved to Leiston in Suffolk. Even after retiring, she continued to be involved in art. In 1973, she organized a big art show in Harrogate called Yorkshire Art 1900–1973.

Books Helen Kapp Illustrated

Helen Kapp created illustrations for these books:

• Seed of Israel: Tales from the English Bible, 1927, edited by Gerald Bullett.
• The Scandel and Credulities of John Aubrey, 1931, by John Collier.
• Take Forty Eggs, 1938, by Basil Collier & Helen Kapp.
• Fables and Satires, 1945, by Harold Morland.
• Toying with a Fancy, 1948, by James Laver.