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
David Cumps
Keny
Carl White
The Blind Men and The Elephant
Carl White
Painting - 36 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 14.2 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
£965 £821
Alfonso Garcia
Flor de amanecer
Alfonso Garcia
Sculpture - 120 x 30 x 3 cm Sculpture - 47.2 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch
£9,146
Caminante sin camino
Alfonso Garcia
Sculpture - 63 x 12 x 3 cm Sculpture - 24.8 x 4.7 x 1.2 inch
£5,191
Tranquillo ricordo d’amore
Alfonso Garcia
Sculpture - 69 x 25 x 3 cm Sculpture - 27.2 x 9.8 x 1.2 inch
£5,850
Fleur en papier doré VIII
Alfonso Garcia
Sculpture - 63 x 26 x 3 cm Sculpture - 24.8 x 10.2 x 1.2 inch
£5,850
Boris Tabacoff
La jolie souris / The pretty mouse
Boris Tabacoff
Sculpture - 15 x 20 x 10 cm Sculpture - 5.9 x 7.9 x 3.9 inch
£1,112
Tabacoff La lampe d'Aladin d'or / Gold Aladin lamp
Boris Tabacoff
Design - 30 x 15 x 4 cm Design - 11.8 x 5.9 x 1.6 inch
£8,449
Crabe rose / Pink crab
Boris Tabacoff
Sculpture - 10 x 15 x 5 cm Sculpture - 3.9 x 5.9 x 2 inch
£1,112
Caroline Corbeau
Mattia Novello
Un luogo dove l'inferno sta dormendo
Mattia Novello
Painting - 180.3 x 160 x 3.8 cm Painting - 71 x 63 x 1.5 inch
£11,722
Ascoltando Il Sole II / Listening to the sun II
Mattia Novello
Painting - 228.6 x 114.3 x 5.1 cm Painting - 90 x 45 x 2 inch
£12,559
Io su poltrona pensando al lui / Me on an armchair thinking about him
Mattia Novello
Painting - 160 x 114.3 x 2.5 cm Painting - 63 x 45 x 1 inch
£7,117
Flat Layer Multi-Color
Mattia Novello
Painting - 111.8 x 111.8 x 5.1 cm Painting - 44 x 44 x 2 inch
£6,280
Io di notte io di giorno
Mattia Novello
Painting - 279.4 x 416.6 x 5.1 cm Painting - 110 x 164 x 2 inch
£14,234
Ascoltando i fulmini / Listening to lightning
Mattia Novello
Painting - 139.7 x 102.9 x 2.5 cm Painting - 55 x 40.5 x 1 inch
£6,698
Jesus Campos
Les espaces de Penseur de Rodin Feu Rouge
Jesus Campos
Sculpture - 30 x 14 x 15 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 5.5 x 5.9 inch
£872
Christophe Comerro
Vegas pop art black fashion
Christophe Comerro
Sculpture - 41 x 30 x 45 cm Sculpture - 16.1 x 11.8 x 17.7 inch
£1,049
Vegas pop art Blue Gulf McQueen
Christophe Comerro
Sculpture - 41 x 30 x 45 cm Sculpture - 16.1 x 11.8 x 17.7 inch
£1,049
Pand'ours pop art Hermès
Christophe Comerro
Sculpture - 40 x 35 x 35 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 13.8 x 13.8 inch
£783
Big Végas pop art Hermès
Christophe Comerro
Sculpture - 65 x 52 x 106 cm Sculpture - 25.6 x 20.5 x 41.7 inch
£3,469
Végas pop art star wars
Christophe Comerro
Sculpture - 45 x 30 x 45 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 11.8 x 17.7 inch
£1,049
Vegas pop art Dior
Christophe Comerro
Sculpture - 41 x 30 x 45 cm Sculpture - 16.1 x 11.8 x 17.7 inch
£1,049
Végas pop art Miami
Christophe Comerro
Sculpture - 45 x 30 x 45 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 11.8 x 17.7 inch
£1,049
Vegas pop art Rolex
Christophe Comerro
Sculpture - 41 x 30 x 45 cm Sculpture - 16.1 x 11.8 x 17.7 inch
£1,049
Julien Marinetti
Bouddha Rieur
Julien Marinetti
Sculpture - 34 x 37 x 34 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 14.6 x 13.4 inch
£19,122
Crane Tika ( Skull )
Julien Marinetti
Sculpture - 26 x 25 x 30 cm Sculpture - 10.2 x 9.8 x 11.8 inch
£12,846
Guillaume Roche
Lee Berthille
Il était une fois l'Amérique
Lee Berthille
Sculpture - 75 x 47 x 155 cm Sculpture - 29.5 x 18.5 x 61 inch
£2,846
Mon Cartier blue and black panthers number 2
Lee Berthille
Sculpture - 45 x 140 x 31 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 55.1 x 12.2 inch
£2,757
Mon Cartier Blue and black panthers number 1
Lee Berthille
Sculpture - 45 x 140 x 31 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 55.1 x 12.2 inch
£2,757
Grâce africaine
Lee Berthille
Sculpture - 190.5 x 83.5 x 38 cm Sculpture - 75 x 32.9 x 15 inch
£4,892
Le fantastique
Lee Berthille
Sculpture - 83 x 116 x 27 cm Sculpture - 32.7 x 45.7 x 10.6 inch
£3,113