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
Agnieszka Staak-Janczarska
Delicate
Agnieszka Staak-Janczarska
Sculpture - 26 x 20 x 17 cm Sculpture - 10.2 x 7.9 x 6.7 inch
$2,019
Portrait in the studio
Agnieszka Staak-Janczarska
Painting - 76 x 70 x 4 cm Painting - 29.9 x 27.6 x 1.6 inch
$2,132
What's hidden
Agnieszka Staak-Janczarska
Sculpture - 28 x 22 x 17 cm Sculpture - 11 x 8.7 x 6.7 inch
$2,019
Faces
Agnieszka Staak-Janczarska
Sculpture - 50 x 63 x 63 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 24.8 x 24.8 inch
$4,375
Rachel Bergeret
Baby Doll n149, Paco Rabane Tribute
Rachel Bergeret
Painting - 70 x 41 x 1 cm Painting - 27.6 x 16.1 x 0.4 inch
$3,871
Medium doll, YSL Tribute
Rachel Bergeret
Sculpture - 105 x 75 x 8 cm Sculpture - 41.3 x 29.5 x 3.1 inch
$12,229
Baby Doll n146 Hermes
Rachel Bergeret
Painting - 72 x 42 x 2 cm Painting - 28.3 x 16.5 x 0.8 inch
$3,871
Baby Doll n148, CH Tribute
Rachel Bergeret
Painting - 72 x 42 x 2 cm Painting - 28.3 x 16.5 x 0.8 inch
$3,871
Baby Doll n151, LV Tribute
Rachel Bergeret
Painting - 72 x 42 x 2 cm Painting - 28.3 x 16.5 x 0.8 inch
$3,871
Baby Doll n151, CD Tribute
Rachel Bergeret
Painting - 72 x 42 x 2 cm Painting - 28.3 x 16.5 x 0.8 inch
$3,871
Baby Doll, Pink Queen
Rachel Bergeret
Painting - 70 x 41 x 1 cm Painting - 27.6 x 16.1 x 0.4 inch
$3,871
Baby Doll n152, Moncler Tribute
Rachel Bergeret
Painting - 72 x 42 x 2 cm Painting - 28.3 x 16.5 x 0.8 inch
$3,871
Yiyan Zhou
Tête féminin sur un galet
Yiyan Zhou
Sculpture - 28 x 78 x 44 cm Sculpture - 11 x 30.7 x 17.3 inch
$4,039
Dancing Woman 2018 II
Yiyan Zhou
Sculpture - 20 x 22.5 x 8 cm Sculpture - 7.9 x 8.9 x 3.1 inch
$5,834
Dancing Woman 2018 VII
Yiyan Zhou
Sculpture - 25 x 32 x 9.5 cm Sculpture - 9.8 x 12.6 x 3.7 inch
$9,873
Marie-Madeleine Gautier
Dédoublement 57/200
Marie-Madeleine Gautier
Sculpture - 11 x 9 x 12 cm Sculpture - 4.3 x 3.5 x 4.7 inch
$1,683
Dédoublement
Marie-Madeleine Gautier
Sculpture - 11 x 12 x 9 cm Sculpture - 4.3 x 4.7 x 3.5 inch
$1,683
Méditerranée
Marie-Madeleine Gautier
Sculpture - 5 x 19 x 6 cm Sculpture - 2 x 7.5 x 2.4 inch
$1,683
Femme aux trois bras
Marie-Madeleine Gautier
Sculpture - 31 x 17 x 7.5 cm Sculpture - 12.2 x 6.7 x 3 inch
$2,019
Un jour peut-être
Marie-Madeleine Gautier
Sculpture - 56 x 23 x 21 cm Sculpture - 22 x 9.1 x 8.3 inch
$21,316
Femme assise sur socle
Marie-Madeleine Gautier
Sculpture - 30 x 8 x 11 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 3.1 x 4.3 inch
$6,507
L'Insecte
La nature nous transporte
L'Insecte
Painting - 124 x 44 x 5.5 cm Painting - 48.8 x 17.3 x 2.2 inch
$3,702
Fanjol
Notte
World 3.0 n°4
Notte
Fine Art Drawings - 100 x 100 x 4 cm Fine Art Drawings - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.6 inch
$1,683
Bruno Boffa
Laurelle Bessé
Papier fleuri (Tondo)
Laurelle Bessé
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$785
La terrasse du peintre
Laurelle Bessé
Painting - 70 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$898
Un après-midi au Choiseul
Laurelle Bessé
Painting - 100 x 73 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 28.7 x 1.2 inch
$2,917
Petite fleur de roche
Laurelle Bessé
Sculpture - 25 x 25 x 1 cm Sculpture - 9.8 x 9.8 x 0.4 inch
Sold
Paul Stein
Sarah Elqa
La Fabrique du Sourire
Sourire au clair d'un sourire
La Fabrique du Sourire
Print - 30 x 30 cm Print - 11.8 x 11.8 inch
$140
I want you smile
La Fabrique du Sourire
Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 15 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 5.9 inch
$280
Sourire Parisien
La Fabrique du Sourire
Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 15 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 5.9 inch
$280