Barbara Hepworth graffiti appears near former studio

Graffiti of sculptor Dame Barbara Hepworth has appeared in the town where she created many of her famous pieces.

The 2m (6ft 6in) artwork was sprayed on a wall in St Ives, close to a museum dedicated to her work.

The Tate gallery, which owns the building, said it was "content for it to be left in place for now."

The work has been attributed to Bristol-based graffiti artist Stewy, who stencilled ten smaller versions on cardboard marked with his signature and left them at locations around the town.

The mural appeared on Tuesday on the former Palais de Danse building, which is being converted into a community art space and is close to the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden.

The former cinema and dance hall was bought by Hepworth in 1961 to use as a studio.

Her most famous sculpture, Single Form, which stands outside the United Nations building in New York, was created there.

Hepworth, originally from Wakefield in West Yorkshire, died in May 1975 at the age of 72 in an accidental fire at her studio.

The building was gifted to Tate by her estate in 2015.

Residents and tourists have reacted positively to the new addition.

Artist Polly Jones said: "It's pretty cool isn't it? It fits in - I like the way she's looking up at the building where she used to store her artwork."

Ann Swan, who was visiting from Loughborough, said: "She's such an icon in this town and as soon as you see it she's instantly recognisable.

"It looks like she belongs here."

One of the ten cardboard versions was left anonymously at Penwith Gallery, where it has been displayed beside one of Hepworth's key sculptures, Magic Stone.

Gallery worker Sophie Fraser said: "I spotted a piece of cardboard propped up next to the desk next to the front door.

"I knew the artist has made ten of these on cardboard and I thought could it be one of them, and then when I looked it up, it was what I'd hoped."

Cedar Lewisohn, a former street art curator with Tate, said he thought the gallery would "navigate this sensitively".

"At the end of the day it's a stencil that probably took about a minute to paint, it's been put up without permission, and street art is by definition ephemeral and not meant to last."

A Tate spokesperson said: "Having spoken to the Hepworth estate, they are content for it to be left in place for now while we liaise with Cornwall Council about next steps."

The BBC has contacted Stewy for comment.

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