Abstract Figurative Sculpture

Even though abstraction in art has its roots in the early 20th century, the earliest form of figurative abstract art can be found in the Impressionist paintings of the late 19th century. The Impressionists wanted a shift away from realism, but objects, shapes, places and the human form are still recognizable within their works. Abstract art does not depict any 'likeness' to reality, is non-recognizable and uses colors and shapes to portray meaning. But! What the viewer can recognize, whether that be a person, place or thing can itself be abstracted and thus regarded as figurative, i.e. abstract figurative art. The pioneers of Abstract art included Wassily Kandinsky, Kazimir Malevich, Jackson Pollock and Piet Mondrian. They used shape and color to create works devoid of the figurative and so then are they devoid of reality? Why strive to recreate something we can find in real life…this may indicate that abstract figurative art falls on a spectrum somewhere between 'ultra-realism' and 'pure abstraction.' As you slide along either end of that scale you'll find amongst Artsper's selection works from Miguel Guía and Caroline Chopin who apply abstraction to figurative art, leaving behind expressions of dynamism, balance, harmony and the skill of creating abstract figurative sculpture.