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
Jorn Van Hoorn
Mr Moneypopper XL
Jorn Van Hoorn
Sculpture - 100 x 60 x 70 cm Sculpture - 39.4 x 23.6 x 27.6 inch
£30,816
Boxing Mickey XL
Jorn Van Hoorn
Sculpture - 100 x 70 x 50 cm Sculpture - 39.4 x 27.6 x 19.7 inch
£30,816
Boxing Mickey Big
Jorn Van Hoorn
Sculpture - 60 x 40 x 30 cm Sculpture - 23.6 x 15.7 x 11.8 inch
£8,888
Benjamin Pietri
Yoda Kaléidoscope
Benjamin Pietri
Sculpture - 26 x 19.5 x 5.5 cm Sculpture - 10.2 x 7.7 x 2.2 inch
£715
Mr Chat orange
Benjamin Pietri
Sculpture - 100 x 50 x 6 cm Sculpture - 39.4 x 19.7 x 2.4 inch
£4,020 £3,618
Christian Della Giustina
Coquillage Corne de Gazelle
Christian Della Giustina
Sculpture - 44 x 62 x 26 cm Sculpture - 17.3 x 24.4 x 10.2 inch
£7,860
Reno
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
£2,322
Les soupirs de Glaucus
Marie-Noëlle Deverre
Print - 50 x 40 x 3 cm Print - 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch
£625
Boia piccola
Marie-Noëlle Deverre
Sculpture - 100 x 42 x 18 cm Sculpture - 39.4 x 16.5 x 7.1 inch
£983
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
£5,270
Max Papart
Sophie Zénon
Topographie végétale (2)
Sophie Zénon
Sculpture - 50 x 15 x 15 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 5.9 x 5.9 inch
£1,965
La Seille (1)
Sophie Zénon
Photography - 230 x 150 x 0.2 cm Photography - 90.6 x 59.1 x 0.1 inch
£1,340
Topographie végétale (1)
Sophie Zénon
Sculpture - 50 x 15 x 15 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 5.9 x 5.9 inch
£1,965
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
£3,573
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
£3,573
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
£3,573
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
£3,573
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
£12,505
No prostitution Here Geisha
Philippe Shangti
Photography - 90 x 90 x 0.5 cm Photography - 35.4 x 35.4 x 0.2 inch
£13,398
Happiness Music Dinner
Philippe Shangti
Photography - 109 x 222 x 0.5 cm Photography - 42.9 x 87.4 x 0.2 inch
£31,263
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
£31,263
No Gluttony Here
Philippe Shangti
Photography - 114 x 120 x 3 cm Photography - 44.9 x 47.2 x 1.2 inch
£14,685
Goddess of oxygen
Philippe Shangti
Photography - 114 x 120 x 0.5 cm Photography - 44.9 x 47.2 x 0.2 inch
£24,564
Topless Bourgeoisie
Philippe Shangti
Photography - 63.5 x 150 x 0.5 cm Photography - 25 x 59.1 x 0.2 inch
£12,505
Stefano Bombardieri
Balancing on the Past 4
Stefano Bombardieri
Sculpture - 35 x 18.5 x 18.5 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 7.3 x 7.3 inch
£15,185
Elia e L’elefante bronzo mini
Stefano Bombardieri
Sculpture - 30 x 18 x 35 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 7.1 x 13.8 inch
£13,398
Gaia e la balena Grande
Stefano Bombardieri
Sculpture - 21 x 115 x 21 cm Sculpture - 8.3 x 45.3 x 8.3 inch
Sold
Il peso del tempo sospeso
Stefano Bombardieri
Sculpture - 47 x 44 x 28 cm Sculpture - 18.5 x 17.3 x 11 inch
Sold
Il peso del tempo sospeso
Stefano Bombardieri
Sculpture - 36 x 19 x 19 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 7.5 x 7.5 inch
Sold
Il peso del tempo sospeso - Rino mini
Stefano Bombardieri
Sculpture - 32 x 26 x 20 cm Sculpture - 12.6 x 10.2 x 7.9 inch
Sold
Balancing on the past 2
Stefano Bombardieri
Sculpture - 36 x 18.5 x 15 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 7.3 x 5.9 inch
Sold
Alberto Ascaso
La chica del norte 4/8
Alberto Ascaso
Sculpture - 90 x 18 x 18 cm Sculpture - 35.4 x 7.1 x 7.1 inch
£12,505
Le temps des cerises 2/8
Alberto Ascaso
Sculpture - 52 x 21 x 12 cm Sculpture - 20.5 x 8.3 x 4.7 inch
£4,913
La chica del Norte
Alberto Ascaso
Sculpture - 220 x 43 x 46 cm Sculpture - 86.6 x 16.9 x 18.1 inch
£53,593
Torso existencial 3/8
Alberto Ascaso
Sculpture - 45 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
£2,590
Hommage à Baudelaire 4/8
Alberto Ascaso
Sculpture - 32 x 12 x 8 cm Sculpture - 12.6 x 4.7 x 3.1 inch
£3,484
Pequena caminante 6/8
Alberto Ascaso
Sculpture - 47 x 30 x 8 cm Sculpture - 18.5 x 11.8 x 3.1 inch
£4,198