Sculptors
A sculptor is someone who creates sculptures. The broad term 'sculptor' does not only apply to artists, it can also be used in non-artistic contexts. For example, it may refer to someone working on a restoration site or creating replicas of existing sculptures. For a sculptor to also be defined as an artist, there needs to be a sense of artistic intention behind the objects they create. This person can be a professional or an amateur.
Sculpture is considered a major artistic discipline in the same way as painting. Some sculptors only work in the medium of sculpture while other artists have a multidisciplinary approach.
A sculptor seeks to create three-dimensional shapes out of one or several media. Sculptors can choose from a variety of materials for their sculptures. Some of the most frequently used media include stone (marble, granite etc), concrete, cement, wood and clay (which is used to create terracotta sculptures). Artists can also use metal to create sculptures, bronze has historically been the most commonly used but nowadays, sculptors can also choose aluminum or even steel.
Contemporary practices and technical developments have led to a growing diversity of materials being available for sculptors to use. Contemporary sculpture therefore uses a wider range of materials than modern sculpture did. Nowadays, it is not uncommon to see artworks made of resin, glass or a combination of several different materials. Artists may also use new technologies such as 3D printers to help them create works.
Over the course of the history of sculpture, there have been a many different types of sculptures and artists have developed numerous techniques for creating three dimensional works.
In relief sculpture, the sculpted form stays attached to the background made of the same material. If the carving is shallow then the work is referred to as a bas-relief. If there is some undercutting and more of 50% of the depth is shown, the work is sculptured in high relief.
If a sculpture is described as in the round or free-standing, it means that the work is detached from the background, in the majority of cases this means that the viewer to walk around it and admire it from all angles.
A key basic distinction is sculpture is the contrast between modeling and carving. Modeling is an additive technique which creates forms by adding more material. This is more flexible for sculptors as they can generally add or subtract the material as they please, for example as they would when using clay. Carving is a subtractive method; the sculptor removes material from a solid block of material, for example wood or marble, to reveal the desired shape.
Some of the greatest artists in the history of sculpture include: Michelangelo, Antoine-Louis Barye, Rembrandt Bugatti, Camille Claudel, Auguste Rodin, Alberto Giacometti, Louise Bourgeois, Cesar, Arman, Anish Kapoor, Anselm Kiefer, Jeff Koons, Yayoi Kusama, Richard Orlinski and Christophe Charbonnel.
Discover the styles & movements
Reno
Ce plaisir est le mien (2)
Reno
Sculpture - 22 x 26 x 15 cm Sculpture - 8.7 x 10.2 x 5.9 inch
$1,120
Marie-Noëlle Deverre
Boia boia
Marie-Noëlle Deverre
Sculpture - 220 x 100 x 20 cm Sculpture - 86.6 x 39.4 x 7.9 inch
$2,940
Les soupirs de Glaucus
Marie-Noëlle Deverre
Print - 50 x 40 x 3 cm Print - 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch
$792
Boia piccola
Marie-Noëlle Deverre
Sculpture - 100 x 42 x 18 cm Sculpture - 39.4 x 16.5 x 7.1 inch
$1,244
James Coignard
Alexis Gorodine
Autel profane Piège à plumes Bird Altar
Alexis Gorodine
Sculpture - 40 x 30 x 4 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch
$6,672
Sophie Zénon
Topographie végétale (2)
Sophie Zénon
Sculpture - 50 x 15 x 15 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 5.9 x 5.9 inch
$2,488
La Seille (1)
Sophie Zénon
Photography - 230 x 150 x 0.2 cm Photography - 90.6 x 59.1 x 0.1 inch
$1,696
Topographie végétale (1)
Sophie Zénon
Sculpture - 50 x 15 x 15 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 5.9 x 5.9 inch
$2,488
Livre I / Berteroa incana (L.) DC. (Alysse blanche, Alysson blanc, Bertéroa Blanc), 2021, in Herbarium Florum obsidionalium (2021-2023)
Sophie Zénon
Photography - 30.5 x 41 cm Photography - 12 x 16.1 inch
$4,524
Livre XIII / Armeria vulgaris Willd. (Armérie à longues feuilles, Armérie allongée), 2023, in Herbarium Florum obsidionalium (2021-2023)
Sophie Zénon
Photography - 30.5 x 41 cm Photography - 12 x 16.1 inch
$4,524
Livre XII / Sisyrinchium montanum Greene (Bermudienne des montagnes, Herbe aux yeux bleus, Sisyrinque des montagnes), 2021, in Herbarium Florum obsidionalium (2021-2023)
Sophie Zénon
Photography - 30.5 x 41 cm Photography - 12 x 16.1 inch
$4,524
Livre IV / Eryngium giganteum L. (Panicaut géant), 2022, in Herbarium Florum obsidionalium (2021-2023)
Sophie Zénon
Photography - 30.5 x 41 cm Photography - 12 x 16.1 inch
$4,524
Livre VIII / Pilosella pilosella subsp. bauhinii (Schult.) S. Braüt. & Greuter (épervière de Bauhin), 2021, in Herbarium Florum obsidionalium (2021-2023)
Sophie Zénon
Photography - 30.5 x 41 cm Photography - 12 x 16.1 inch
$4,524
Philippe Shangti
Make your Choice
Philippe Shangti
Photography - 57 x 135 x 0.5 cm Photography - 22.4 x 53.1 x 0.2 inch
$15,832
Happiness Music Dinner
Philippe Shangti
Photography - 109 x 222 x 0.5 cm Photography - 42.9 x 87.4 x 0.2 inch
$39,581
Joker VS Drugs with jacket : "Woman Give Me Your Power"
Philippe Shangti
Sculpture - 90 x 30 x 30 cm Sculpture - 35.4 x 11.8 x 11.8 inch
$39,581
No Gluttony Here
Philippe Shangti
Photography - 114 x 120 x 3 cm Photography - 44.9 x 47.2 x 1.2 inch
$18,592
Welcome On Board Rolls Royce
Philippe Shangti
Photography - 90 x 90 x 0.5 cm Photography - 35.4 x 35.4 x 0.2 inch
$20,356
Goddess of oxygen
Philippe Shangti
Photography - 114 x 120 x 0.5 cm Photography - 44.9 x 47.2 x 0.2 inch
$31,100
Topless Bourgeoisie
Philippe Shangti
Photography - 63.5 x 150 x 0.5 cm Photography - 25 x 59.1 x 0.2 inch
$15,832
Mark Ryden
Piccolina Yakalina
Mark Ryden
Sculpture - 16.5 x 19.8 x 5.3 cm Sculpture - 6.5 x 7.8 x 2.1 inch
$15,832
Yuki the young yak (White)
Mark Ryden
Sculpture - 43.2 x 30.5 x 25.4 cm Sculpture - 17 x 12 x 10 inch
$2,036
Jesús-Rafael Soto
Miroir d'Artistes
Jesús-Rafael Soto
Print - 50.2 x 50.2 x 5.1 cm Print - 19.75 x 19.75 x 2 inch
$24,000
Angélique
Rafael Barrios
Verticale Disloquée
Rafael Barrios
Sculpture - 229 x 169 x 40 cm Sculpture - 90.2 x 66.5 x 15.7 inch
Sold
Móvil Espiral Fractal - M596
Rafael Barrios
Sculpture - 178 x 80 x 8 cm Sculpture - 70.1 x 31.5 x 3.1 inch
Sold
Hebru Brantley
Ultra Lumen OG Sculpture
Hebru Brantley
Sculpture - 41 x 33 x 41 cm Sculpture - 16.1 x 13 x 16.1 inch
$19,500
Marie Labat
Mains aux graines et coccinelles
Marie Labat
Sculpture - 27 x 27 x 27 cm Sculpture - 10.6 x 10.6 x 10.6 inch
$430
Semeuse
Marie Labat
Fine Art Drawings - 160 x 100 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 63 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch
$1,244