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
James Jean
Descendent - Lucid Dreamer
James Jean
Sculpture - 32 x 15 x 15 cm Sculpture - 12.6 x 5.9 x 5.9 inch
$1,998
Jicé
Robert Indiana
The Hartley Elegies: Berlin Series, KvF I
Robert Indiana
Print - 203.2 x 139.7 cm Print - 80 x 55 inch
$7,500
The Hartley Elegies: Berlin Series, KvF VII
Robert Indiana
Print - 152.4 x 152.4 cm Print - 60 x 60 inch
$7,000
Tobia Ravà
1590 Coccodrillo Traghetto Amore
Tobia Ravà
Sculpture - 24 x 85 x 34 cm Sculpture - 9.4 x 33.5 x 13.4 inch
$40,625
1411 La Vigna Segreta
Tobia Ravà
Painting - 70 x 50 x 4 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch
$10,434
Or Kadmon-Bosco Zafferano 4/10
Tobia Ravà
Print - 55 x 70 x 3 cm Print - 21.7 x 27.6 x 1.2 inch
$2,031
Romero Britto
Kuno Vollet
Creatio Continua Ice
Kuno Vollet
Sculpture - 30 x 30 x 10 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 11.8 x 3.9 inch
$1,443
Timeless Silver Orbit
Kuno Vollet
Sculpture - 135 x 135 x 60 cm Sculpture - 53.1 x 53.1 x 23.6 inch
$18,869
Yasuo Kiyonaga
Fickle Memory 07
Yasuo Kiyonaga
Photography - 70 x 100 x 3 cm Photography - 27.6 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch
$888
Floating memories 03
Yasuo Kiyonaga
Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 0.3 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 0.1 inch
$888
Torrent06_6879
Yasuo Kiyonaga
Photography - 48.3 x 32.9 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19 x 13 x 0 inch
$799
Torrent25_8141
Yasuo Kiyonaga
Photography - 32.9 x 48.3 x 0.1 cm Photography - 13 x 19 x 0 inch
$799
Ewa Bathelier
Romain Langlois
La belle endormie
Romain Langlois
Sculpture - 53 x 44 x 27 cm Sculpture - 20.9 x 17.3 x 10.6 inch
$21,644
Masque de Jéricho
Romain Langlois
Sculpture - 56 x 23 x 25 cm Sculpture - 22 x 9.1 x 9.8 inch
$13,320
La montagne et la rivière
Romain Langlois
Sculpture - 111 x 39 x 35 cm Sculpture - 43.7 x 15.4 x 13.8 inch
$35,519
Serendipity
Romain Langlois
Sculpture - 102 x 64 x 88 cm Sculpture - 40.2 x 25.2 x 34.6 inch
$46,619
Alain Mimouni
Wonder woman GOLD
Alain Mimouni
Painting - 60 x 130 x 10 cm Painting - 23.6 x 51.2 x 3.9 inch
$2,775
Gianfranco Meggiato
Sfera Aquarius 6/8
Gianfranco Meggiato
Sculpture - 60 x 45 x 45 cm Sculpture - 23.6 x 17.7 x 17.7 inch
$67,708
Autoritatto
Gianfranco Meggiato
Sculpture - 55 x 45 x 45 cm Sculpture - 21.7 x 17.7 x 17.7 inch
$50,000
Sfera Quantica
Gianfranco Meggiato
Sculpture - 200 x 120 x 120 cm Sculpture - 78.7 x 47.2 x 47.2 inch
$380,000
Mondo Interiore
Gianfranco Meggiato
Sculpture - 40 x 40 x 40 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 15.7 x 15.7 inch
$60,937
Sfera Sirio
Gianfranco Meggiato
Sculpture - 20 x 20 x 20 cm Sculpture - 7.9 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch
$27,083
La Perla Nera
Gianfranco Meggiato
Sculpture - 45 x 40 x 40 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 15.7 x 15.7 inch
$50,000