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
Neno Ramos
The Royal Kiss - Day and Night
Neno Ramos
Sculpture - 45 x 85 x 1.5 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 33.5 x 0.6 inch
€19,441
Gum
Nicolas Prabel
Roboïde print # 1
Nicolas Prabel
Fine Art Drawings - 75 x 50 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 29.5 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
€95
Roboïde butterfly
Nicolas Prabel
Sculpture - 60 x 35 x 16 cm Sculpture - 23.6 x 13.8 x 6.3 inch
€1,300
Frank Jensen
Richard Saint-Amans
Le Doute
Richard Saint-Amans
Sculpture - 290 x 220 x 250 cm Sculpture - 114.2 x 86.6 x 98.4 inch
€12,000
L'Adieu (G Appolinaire)
Richard Saint-Amans
Print - 70 x 49 x 0.1 cm Print - 27.6 x 19.3 x 0 inch
€320
Letter 8
Richard Saint-Amans
Fine Art Drawings - 71 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 28 x 19.7 x 0 inch
€800
Alberto Letamendi
El iluso que mira las estrellas - The deluded man who looks at stars
Alberto Letamendi
Sculpture - 14 x 7 x 5.8 cm Sculpture - 5.5 x 2.75 x 2.3 inch
€4,180
Pagoki Lehorra
Alberto Letamendi
Painting - 120 x 120 x 2 cm Painting - 47.2 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch
€7,500
Primer Circulo Limbo
Alberto Letamendi
Painting - 97 x 146 x 2 cm Painting - 38.2 x 57.5 x 0.8 inch
€7,500
Superposiciones VII
Alberto Letamendi
Painting - 61 x 61 x 5.1 cm Painting - 24 x 24 x 2 inch
€3,694
Noraezean VII Mixed Media Painting
Alberto Letamendi
Painting - 45.7 x 33 x 5.1 cm Painting - 18 x 13 x 2 inch
€2,333
Anany
Pierre de Rêve - Blanc effet brillant
Anany
Sculpture - 50 x 63 x 0.3 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 24.8 x 0.1 inch
€1,990
Porcelaine de Rêve - Bleu N°7
Anany
Design - 0.3 x 18.5 x 18.5 cm Design - 0.1 x 7.3 x 7.3 inch
€240
Pierre de Rêve I- Rouge
Anany
Sculpture - 180 x 180 x 0.4 cm Sculpture - 70.9 x 70.9 x 0.2 inch
€19,499
Pierre de Rêve XII - Bleu & Or
Anany
Sculpture - 36 x 16 x 0.3 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 6.3 x 0.1 inch
€950
Fleurs des champs - Bleu & Blanc
Anany
Painting - 50 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch
€1,375
Pierre de Rêve - Noir / Or - P.VI
Anany
Sculpture - 18 x 19 x 0.3 cm Sculpture - 7.1 x 7.5 x 0.1 inch
€895
Pierre de Rêve - Noir & Or - PIII
Anany
Sculpture - 33 x 39 x 0.3 cm Sculpture - 13 x 15.4 x 0.1 inch
€1,690
Paul Picka
Every Forest is my Garden
Paul Picka
Painting - 116 x 81 x 2 cm Painting - 45.7 x 31.9 x 0.8 inch
Sold
Birth of the new world
Paul Picka
Painting - 120 x 120 x 3 cm Painting - 47.2 x 47.2 x 1.2 inch
Sold
Josep Riera i Arago
Night Airplane
Josep Riera i Arago
Painting - 52 x 70 x 2 cm Painting - 20.5 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch
€6,000
Airplane on boat
Josep Riera i Arago
Sculpture - 98 x 91 x 18 cm Sculpture - 38.6 x 35.8 x 7.1 inch
€12,000
Chu Teh-Chun
Colleen Wolstenholme
Untitled from the series Shifty Packets
Colleen Wolstenholme
Fine Art Drawings - 28 x 36 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 14.2 inch
€875
Untitled
Colleen Wolstenholme
Fine Art Drawings - 43 x 36 x 4 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.9 x 14.2 x 1.6 inch
€1,264
Untitled from the series Shifty Packets
Colleen Wolstenholme
Fine Art Drawings - 28 x 36 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11 x 14.2 inch
€875
Matrix Index 4 / Yellow
Colleen Wolstenholme
Sculpture - 66 x 66 x 8 cm Sculpture - 26 x 26 x 3.1 inch
€1,600
Untitled from the series Shifty Packets
Colleen Wolstenholme
Fine Art Drawings - 48 x 61 cm Fine Art Drawings - 18.9 x 24 inch
€1,555
Untitled from the series Shifty Packets
Colleen Wolstenholme
Fine Art Drawings - 48 x 61 cm Fine Art Drawings - 18.9 x 24 inch
€1,555
Matrix Index 2 / Gold
Colleen Wolstenholme
Sculpture - 66 x 66 x 8 cm Sculpture - 26 x 26 x 3.1 inch
€1,600
Matrix Index 3 / Charcoal
Colleen Wolstenholme
Sculpture - 66 x 66 x 8 cm Sculpture - 26 x 26 x 3.1 inch
€1,600