British artist Henry Moore was one of the outstanding sculptors of the 20th Century. Through his handling of stone and bronze Moore gave form to a highly distinctive style which has influenced artists the world over. Throughout his long and prolific career Moore produced thousands of sculptures, drawings and prints.

In the early 1980s Moore developed a three-part sculpture titled 'Figure in a Shelter.' He later decided that the inner form in the centre was a piece that could stand in its own right. There were six casts of this figure by Morris Singer Foundry London. The one in Wellington is No. 5.

Human form was a source of inspiration in this work. "The human figure," Henry Moore wrote, "is what interests me most deeply, but I have found principles of form and rhythm from the study of natural objects, such as pebbles, rocks, bones, trees and plants."

~ Cited from Wellington Sculpture Trust

This work was purchased by the Wellington Sculpture Trust under the Arts Bonus Scheme with funds from Fletcher Development & Construction.

A plaque installed with the work reads:

“INNER FORM / BY / HENRY MOORE / 1898 – 1986 / PRESENTED TO THE / CITY OF WELLINGTON / UNDER THE ARTS BONUS SCHEME / BY / FLETCHER CHALLENGE LIMITED / APRIL 1988 / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS TO / WELLINGTON SCULPTURE TRUST & NEW ZEALAND LINE”

On Saturday 28 March 2009 the sculpture was the subject of a project by Billy Apple: 'Less is Moore' curated by Tina Barton for the public art commissioning series One Day Sculpture.