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
Codina Corona
Hunt Cartridge belt
Codina Corona
Sculpture - 30 x 25 x 20 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 9.8 x 7.9 inch
£2,133
Jyoti Tyagi
Mark Leputa
Under pale grey skies
Mark Leputa
Sculpture - 24 x 26 x 22 cm Sculpture - 9.4 x 10.2 x 8.7 inch
Sold
Edith BK
André Laurenti
Terra di Siena
André Laurenti
Painting - 146 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 57.5 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch
£7,110 £6,399
Anfora AcquA Marine
André Laurenti
Sculpture - 30 x 40 x 20 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 15.7 x 7.9 inch
£3,555
Busto velato nelle terra laguna
André Laurenti
Painting - 92 x 73 x 3 cm Painting - 36.2 x 28.7 x 1.2 inch
£3,110
Christiane Bernais
Les yeux verts
Christiane Bernais
Painting - 60 x 60 x 1.7 cm Painting - 23.6 x 23.6 x 0.7 inch
£800
La belle endormie
Christiane Bernais
Sculpture - 29 x 33 x 16 cm Sculpture - 11.4 x 13 x 6.3 inch
£844
Jour de marché à Bamako
Christiane Bernais
Fine Art Drawings - 41.5 x 31.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.3 x 12.4 inch
£578
Vagues d'amour
Christiane Bernais
Painting - 100 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch
£1,600
Yves & Yulia Pires
Swarovski Panther
Yves & Yulia Pires
Sculpture - 24 x 67 x 16 cm Sculpture - 9.4 x 26.4 x 6.3 inch
£13,331
Swarovski panther
Yves & Yulia Pires
Sculpture - 24 x 67 x 16 cm Sculpture - 9.4 x 26.4 x 6.3 inch
£13,331
Swaroski Skull
Yves & Yulia Pires
Sculpture - 26 x 26 x 26 cm Sculpture - 10.2 x 10.2 x 10.2 inch
£6,132
Skull Swarovski
Yves & Yulia Pires
Sculpture - 26 x 26 x 26 cm Sculpture - 10.2 x 10.2 x 10.2 inch
£5,243
Swaroski Skull
Yves & Yulia Pires
Sculpture - 26 x 26 x 26 cm Sculpture - 10.2 x 10.2 x 10.2 inch
£5,243
Swaroski Skull
Yves & Yulia Pires
Sculpture - 26 x 26 x 26 cm Sculpture - 10.2 x 10.2 x 10.2 inch
£5,243
Panthere Swarovski
Yves & Yulia Pires
Sculpture - 24 x 67 x 16 cm Sculpture - 9.4 x 26.4 x 6.3 inch
Sold
Swarovski Panther
Yves & Yulia Pires
Sculpture - 24 x 67 x 16 cm Sculpture - 9.4 x 26.4 x 6.3 inch
Sold
Geun Bae Kim
Frany La Chipie
Beatriz Oggero
Against the tide
Beatriz Oggero
Sculpture - 800 x 50 x 2 cm Sculpture - 315 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
£4,888
Monika Debus
Emilie Teillaud
Hymne à l'amour
Emilie Teillaud
Sculpture - 42 x 22 x 12 cm Sculpture - 16.5 x 8.7 x 4.7 inch
£1,689
L'oeil de la Nature
Emilie Teillaud
Painting - 97 x 80 x 3 cm Painting - 38.2 x 31.5 x 1.2 inch
£1,689
Esprits d'Amour
Emilie Teillaud
Painting - 162 x 114 x 3 cm Painting - 63.8 x 44.9 x 1.2 inch
£3,999
Dark sacred night
Emilie Teillaud
Painting - 114 x 147 x 4 cm Painting - 44.9 x 57.9 x 1.6 inch
£4,132
Unir jusqu'au ciel
Emilie Teillaud
Painting - 195 x 97 x 4 cm Painting - 76.8 x 38.2 x 1.6 inch
£5,243
Les mains du Ciel
Emilie Teillaud
Painting - 100 x 81 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.9 x 1.2 inch
£1,866
Compter tes étoiles
Emilie Teillaud
Painting - 65 x 50 x 0.3 cm Painting - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
£755