Our sculptures recommandations for Sale
Come discover our top sculpture picks ! Artsper presents its selection of bestselling works, which are also key in the world of contemporary art, as well as our current favourites. The artworks in this selection represent good investments, which will certainly enrich your collection, whether you are a beginner or a seasonned collector. Don't hesitate any longer, and have a look at this selection of works on which you can safely bet !
We also recommend you to browse by colours and discover our yellow , blue, red, black and orange sculptures
Sculpture, along with painting, is one of the oldest art mediums in human history. The term sculpture comes from the latin word “sculptura" meaning “to cut". This corresponds to the process of cutting away material in order to achieve a desired aesthetic form.
The very first examples of statuettes were used in magic rituals. Then in ecclesiastical history, sculpture was used to depict religious icons, which we still see today.
Over the course of art history, sculpture evolved dramatically. It took on many different forms, and was completed in many different materials.
While clay still appears to be the most popular material, more and more artists are experimenting with alternative elements such as resin and steel. These materials allow for new creative opportunities, whilst more traditional elements such as marble, bronze and wood, are frequently used by those inspired by the great masters of the 20th century. Auguste Rodin rejected traditional sculpture and modeled the human body in a realistic manner, celebrating the individual characteristics of his subjects. This lead to incredibly unique and modern works.
There are many techniques to sculpture, however some are essential to know. These include: bas-relief, high relief, modeling, cast-iron moulding and sculpture in the round (3D).
Nevertheless, whether they're established or emerging, an increasing number of artists are developing their own sculptural techniques.
Artists at the end of the 20th century were galvanised by monumental sculpture, and we can see examples of this practice in both museums and public gardens worldwide. Originally spearheading this movement was American artist Jeff Koons, who is known for his eccentric and vivid works. Before he was dethroned of his title by English artist, David Hockney in 2018, Koons' 3 metre tall “Balloon Dog Orange" was the most expensive contemporary work in the world.
In the 1990s, Anglo-Indian artist, Anish Kapoor, began making monumental sculptures such as “Tarantara" in 1999. In 2011, his work, “Queen's Vagina," caused a huge scandal in the gardens of Versailles. More recently, Kapoor has been experimenting with reflective surfaces in order to obscure the viewer's perception of themselves.
Niki de Saint Phalle's “Nanas" and César Baldaccini's compression works are still incredibly relevant today, and continue to be shown in major exhibitions worldwide.
Hyperrealism also trends today, and artists are reintroducing figurative practices to their works, as opposed to the abstraction explored in previous decades. The leading figures of this movement include Carole A. Feuerman and Maurizio Cattelan, who were inspired by Andy Warhol and Marcel Duchamp.
In addition to this, sculpture is being increasingly used in street art, which can be seen in France through Invader's works and JR's huge installations.
