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
Pierre Gimenez
Femme allongée en bronze
Pierre Gimenez
Sculpture - 16 x 28 x 15 cm Sculpture - 6.3 x 11 x 5.9 inch
£584
Femme allongée en Or
Pierre Gimenez
Sculpture - 16 x 28 x 15 cm Sculpture - 6.3 x 11 x 5.9 inch
£584
La main au cigare
Pierre Gimenez
Sculpture - 35 x 24 x 10.5 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 9.4 x 4.1 inch
£2,561
Vincent Bardou
Street art is back
Vincent Bardou
Painting - 80 x 120 x 4 cm Painting - 31.5 x 47.2 x 1.6 inch
£2,336
The street is beautiful
Vincent Bardou
Painting - 90 x 60 x 4 cm Painting - 35.4 x 23.6 x 1.6 inch
£2,067
David Kracov
Pierre Yermia
Bruno Helgen
Let's Explore The World
Bruno Helgen
Sculpture - 20 x 20 x 20 cm Sculpture - 7.9 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch
£1,617
Remi Delaplace
Clair Obscur
Remi Delaplace
Painting - 130 x 89 x 3 cm Painting - 51.2 x 35 x 1.2 inch
£3,136 £2,822
Fond-figure plans intermédiaires
Remi Delaplace
Painting - 65 x 100 x 3 cm Painting - 25.6 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch
£1,429
Inside, outside, manque d'image
Remi Delaplace
Painting - 54 x 81 x 3 cm Painting - 21.3 x 31.9 x 1.2 inch
£1,339
Michal Bajsarowicz
Nude
Michal Bajsarowicz
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 30 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
£359
The People
Michal Bajsarowicz
Painting - 100 x 120 x 4.5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 47.2 x 1.8 inch
£2,246
Nude
Michal Bajsarowicz
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 30 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
£359
Nude
Michal Bajsarowicz
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 30 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
£359
Nude
Michal Bajsarowicz
Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 30 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
£359
Martin Whatson
Beyond the Wall
Martin Whatson
Painting - 162.56 x 243.84 x 2.54 cm Painting - 64 x 96 x 1 inch
£84,330
Urban Camouflage
Martin Whatson
Painting - 207 x 147.3 x 2.54 cm Painting - 81.5 x 58 x 1 inch
£37,949
Karen Axikyan
The Soaring of Spirit
Karen Axikyan
Sculpture - 39 x 18 x 23 cm Sculpture - 15.4 x 7.1 x 9.1 inch
£1,012
Naor
35cm Teddy Lamborghini Tribute, black
Naor
Sculpture - 35 x 25 x 28 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 9.8 x 11 inch
£584
30cm Heart CH Tribute Black
Naor
Sculpture - 30 x 15 x 10 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 5.9 x 3.9 inch
£1,195
35cm Teddy CH Tribute, Chrome White
Naor
Sculpture - 35 x 25 x 28 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 9.8 x 11 inch
£1,051
35cm Teddy Orange H Tribute
Naor
Sculpture - 35 x 25 x 29 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 9.8 x 11.4 inch
£584
MrHope
Skate Mr Hope upcycling
MrHope
Sculpture - 80 x 20 x 2 cm Sculpture - 31.5 x 7.9 x 0.8 inch
£180 £153
Tamara Bakhshinyan
Soft abstraction IX
Tamara Bakhshinyan
Painting - 70 x 50 x 1 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
£538
Garden of Love
Tamara Bakhshinyan
Sculpture - 37 x 45 x 2 cm Sculpture - 14.6 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch
£440
Soft abstraction X
Tamara Bakhshinyan
Painting - 70 x 50 x 1 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
£538
Soft abstraction VI
Tamara Bakhshinyan
Painting - 100 x 150 x 3.5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 59.1 x 1.4 inch
£2,336
Elegance Glory II
Tamara Bakhshinyan
Painting - 60 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
£530 £477