Henry Moore is one of the most influential sculptors of the 20th century. He was born the seventh of eight children in 1898 in a small coal-mining town in Yorkshire, his father was a miner. Of his seven brothers and sisters only five survived into adulthood. Moore decided to be an artist, despite his humble beginnings, and pursued his art education in Leeds and in London. At age 18, Moore enlisted, serving in the First World War, and then continued his studies in London when he returned from the war.

Early in his career Moore began to carve in wood as well as stone and demonstrated a distinctive regard for the human figure. During the 1920’s and 1930’s he began to exploit actual spaces in his sculpture that became integral to as well as characteristic of his articulation of form. With family groups and figures studies, Moore established the basic themes that would inspire him for the rest of his life.

By the 1940's, Moore's international reputation was growing and his work was in high demand. During World War II, when it was next to impossible to sculpt, Moore turned to drawing. He produced a haunting series of drawings called 'Shelter Drawings,' that depict Londoners seeking refuge in the subways during the long nights of bombing.
After the war, Moore's large bronze castings became more prominent, though his approach remained that of a carver. His post war work is dominated by images of reclining female figures, the mother and child theme, seated women, and semiabstract figures.

Public recognition continued to grow throughout the rest of his life, as he received countless commissions from around the world, received many honors, and had numerous exhibitions. Moore, a tireless worker, is also known for producing one of the most formidable bodies of work created by any artist in the history of Western art.