Animal Sculpture for Sale
Animal sculpture is a sculptural style in its own right. This specific genre deserves the same recognition as nude, marble, bronze and resin sculptures.
The representation of animals and anthropomorphism has long been a source of inspiration for sculptural creations and yet it was once considered a minor genre in Western European decorative arts. Ironically, animal sculpture was of the utmost importance to Ancient civilizations. Countless ancient Egyptian buildings for example were adorned with animal sculptures, from grandiose representations of felines to Sphinxes. More generally within the visual arts, animals were rarely represented in their own right, and were often depicted accompanying or symbolizing mythological figures or even character traits.
Aside from its mythical representations, animal sculptures were also popular with suzerain states who used monumental bronze sculptures of lions or eagles to symbolise the immensity of their power.
However, it wasn't until 1831 that the sculptor Antoine-Louis Barye finally established animal sculpture as a noble art, thanks to his work "Tiger devouring a Gavial Crocodile" at the Salon de Paris. It was no longer fashionable to depict animals as unreal, mythological creatures in the decorative arts and instead naturalism and realistic representations of animals characterized the sculpture of the period. Ideas about nature's wealth and abundance meant that all creatures deserved to be carefully and meticulously recreated in the closest likeness possible. Mythical animal interpretations were left behind and artists concentrated on capturing the finer details of an animal's fur, muscles or mouth.
A new wave of renowned animal sculptors emerged. Pierre-Jules Mêne, Antoine Aigon and Jean Germain Demay are just a few examples of some of these pioneering artists. Particularly interested in 'exotic' species (snakes, gazelles, elephants, giraffes, hippopotamuses…), they all explored representing the natural world in a variety of different ways.
In the 20th century, realist tendencies gradually faded away and a new group of creative minds began to experiment with animal sculpture as part of the shift towards modern sculpture.
Numerous artists tried their hand at animal sculpture whilst applying new aesthetic criteria which was largely influenced by modern and contemporary art movements: Abstract art, Impressionism, Cubism, Expressionism. Guided by key surrealist influences, which could not have been further removed from the traditional styles of the past century, a new bestiary was created. Pablo Picasso and Alberto Giacometti were among the key figures who helped to reinvent the way artists endeavored to sculpt animals.
In contemporary animal sculpture, radically redefining artistic techniques and the way we represent living beings has taken precedence over realistic proportion sizes and lifelike features. Artists no longer refrain from accentuating a particular body part, removing a limb for example or creating an entirely new hybrid beast. However, many artists are also skilled at creating hyper-realistic animals that seem so real they almost appear to be alive.
To help you get an idea of the latest animal sculptures, take a look at Artsper's collection of sculpted animals, selected from some of the best contemporary art galleries and made by artists including Jaques Dufrane, Raymundo Fabian Melchor and Roxana y Jesus Hernandez.
Save your search and find it in your favorites
Save your search to find it quickly
Saved search
Your search is accessible from the favorites tab > My favorite searches
Unsaved search
A problem occurred
Crocodile (1)
Richard Orlinski
Sculpture - 45 x 100 x 45 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 39.4 x 17.7 inch
$18,720
Envol du cygne
Bernard Rebaudet
Sculpture - 26 x 45 x 41 cm Sculpture - 10.2 x 17.7 x 16.1 inch
$12,285
Grande panthere noire
Bernard Rebaudet
Sculpture - 21 x 50 x 15 cm Sculpture - 8.3 x 19.7 x 5.9 inch
$12,870
It's a dog life ... !
Papa Mesk
Sculpture - 25 x 43 x 15 cm Sculpture - 9.8 x 16.9 x 5.9 inch
$1,404
Sterne qui plonge
Jean Lemonnier
Sculpture - 39 x 65 x 20 cm Sculpture - 15.4 x 25.6 x 7.9 inch
$5,616
Ducklings / Les canetons
Sylvie Gaudissart
Sculpture - 79 x 21 x 78 cm Sculpture - 31.1 x 8.3 x 30.7 inch
$14,625
Elephant and baby
Zachariah Njobo
Sculpture - 93 x 35 x 25 cm Sculpture - 36.6 x 13.8 x 9.8 inch
$4,914
White pelican - Pélican blanc
Zachariah Njobo
Sculpture - 120 x 40 x 30 cm Sculpture - 47.2 x 15.7 x 11.8 inch
$5,031
African pelican - Pélican africain
Zachariah Njobo
Sculpture - 94 x 31 x 20 cm Sculpture - 37 x 12.2 x 7.9 inch
$4,914
Grues du Japon parade II
Bernard Rebaudet
Sculpture - 30 x 40 x 35 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 15.7 x 13.8 inch
$11,115
Charge de l’éléphant d'Afrique
Bernard Rebaudet
Sculpture - 23 x 40 x 20 cm Sculpture - 9.1 x 15.7 x 7.9 inch
$11,583
Grande baleine
Bernard Rebaudet
Sculpture - 45 x 40 x 25 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 15.7 x 9.8 inch
$12,285
Hommage a Colbert, mini
Stefano Bombardieri
Sculpture - 12 x 41 x 14 cm Sculpture - 4.7 x 16.1 x 5.5 inch
$17,550
Lièvre fleuri
Véronique Dominici
Sculpture - 34 x 36 x 20 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 14.2 x 7.9 inch
$1,404
Lièvre au jardin
Véronique Dominici
Sculpture - 36.5 x 35 x 17 cm Sculpture - 14.4 x 13.8 x 6.7 inch
$1,404
Albatros en vol
Jean Lemonnier
Sculpture - 127 x 31 x 25 cm Sculpture - 50 x 12.2 x 9.8 inch
$18,720
Banc de phoques
Jean Lemonnier
Sculpture - 32 x 46 x 58 cm Sculpture - 12.6 x 18.1 x 22.8 inch
$9,945
De part et d’autre
Karine Payette
Sculpture - 57.2 x 129.5 x 63.5 cm Sculpture - 22.5 x 51 x 25 inch
$17,550
Ours Mondrian Brillant Equilibre Pop Art 85cm Co. N°2
André Gacko
Sculpture - 85 x 26 x 26 cm Sculpture - 33.5 x 10.2 x 10.2 inch
$5,054
Nature morte à l'oiseau
Stephanie Larène
Sculpture - 58 x 64 x 23 cm Sculpture - 22.8 x 25.2 x 9.1 inch
$4,680
Elévation, duo d'oiseaux
Stephanie Larène
Sculpture - 160 x 160 x 15 cm Sculpture - 63 x 63 x 5.9 inch
$11,700
Loup hurlant noir mat (120 cm)
Richard Orlinski
Sculpture - 120 x 128 x 40 cm Sculpture - 47.2 x 50.4 x 15.7 inch
Sold
Wild Kong blanc (37 cm)
Richard Orlinski
Sculpture - 37 x 29 x 20 cm Sculpture - 14.6 x 11.4 x 7.9 inch
Sold
Wild Kong tag, Marylin
Richard Orlinski
Sculpture - 30 x 22 x 10 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 8.7 x 3.9 inch
Sold
Équilibre d'éléphants
Philippe Berry
Sculpture - 53 x 16 x 16 cm Sculpture - 20.9 x 6.3 x 6.3 inch
Sold
Mes trois garnements
Sophie Verger
Sculpture - 34.5 x 27.5 x 11 cm Sculpture - 13.6 x 10.8 x 4.3 inch
Sold
Le jeu de la corde / Tug of war
Sophie Verger
Sculpture - 11.5 x 50 x 10 cm Sculpture - 4.5 x 19.7 x 3.9 inch
Sold
Magic girl, no V/VIII
Joanna Zakrzewska-Cholewa
Sculpture - 20 x 6 x 9.5 cm Sculpture - 7.9 x 2.4 x 3.7 inch
Sold
Taureau Lamborghini
Hassan Laamirat
Sculpture - 230 x 140 x 230 cm Sculpture - 90.6 x 55.1 x 90.6 inch
Sold
Great learning version 2
Sophie Verger
Sculpture - 45 x 41 x 20 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 16.1 x 7.9 inch
Sold
Elephant and his little girl
Sophie Verger
Sculpture - 40 x 49 x 28 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 19.3 x 11 inch
Sold
Oiseau de feu et oiseau de fer
Wifredo Lam
Sculpture - 27 x 28 x 14 cm Sculpture - 10.6 x 11 x 5.5 inch
Sold
Splashed gummy bear - blue
Gabriela Alejandra Rivera
Sculpture - 25 x 12 x 9 cm Sculpture - 9.8 x 4.7 x 3.5 inch
Sold
Chouette Hulotte
François Galoyer
Sculpture - 29 x 10 x 14 cm Sculpture - 11.4 x 3.9 x 5.5 inch
Sold
Lièvre curieux
Véronique Dominici
Sculpture - 20 x 42 x 18 cm Sculpture - 7.9 x 16.5 x 7.1 inch
Sold
Discover the styles & movements
Discover the selection of our experts
Kong Christmas 2024 Gold edition
Richard Orlinski
Design - 19 x 13.5 x 7 cm Design - 7.5 x 5.3 x 2.8 inch
$597
Standing Wild Bear
Richard Orlinski
Sculpture - 80 x 52 x 58 cm Sculpture - 31.5 x 20.5 x 22.8 inch
$91,259
Need help with Animal Sculpture for Sale ?
What is the most famous animal sculpture?
Some of the most famous animal sculptures in the world are Charging Bull by Arturo di Modica, The Last Three by Gillie and Marc Schattner, and Lions by Edward Kemeys.
Who is the most famous animal sculptor?
The most famous sculptors who produced animal sculptures include Edward Kemeys, who is credited as being the first animal sculptor (animalier) in America, and Antoine-Louis Barye, a French Romantic sculptor who lived during the late 18th and 19th centuries.
What is Jeff Koons rabbit made of?
Jeff Koons' Rabbit series consists of three stainless steel animal sculptures.