Crypt Group

From its formation in 1927, the St. Ives Society of Artists had been the supreme exhibiting society of St. Ives. The Crypt Group formed in September 1946 was a breakaway faction of the STISA set up in the crypt of the local Mariners Church which is today still used by the STISA. It originally consisted of Peter Lanyon, John Wells, Guido Morris, Bryan Wynter, Patrick Heron and Sven Berlin, all of whom were looking for new ways to describe physical reality by exploring abstract forms of painting or sculpture.

Other exhibiting artists who became members included Ben Nicholson, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, Denis Mitchell, Misome Peile and Barbara Hepworth. At that time, their approach to art was in disagreement with the traditional style of the other artists of the Cornish colony. A closing turbulent meeting between members in 1949 resulted in Hepworth and Nicholson resigning, pulling several other members with them to eventually form the Penwith Society of Arts. Generally, the exhibits at the time did not find favour with the general public.

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