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
Kirill Postovit
The Moonlight Coffee Together
Kirill Postovit
Painting - 120 x 90 x 2 cm Painting - 47.2 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch
$2,344
Midnight Flowers
Kirill Postovit
Painting - 100 x 70 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch
$1,674
The Wings Of Love
Kirill Postovit
Painting - 100 x 70 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch
$1,674
An Autumn Song Of Love
Kirill Postovit
Painting - 100 x 90 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch
$2,567
Jazzu
Esprit de Liberté 1
Jazzu
Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 15 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 5.9 x 0 inch
$335
David Shrigley
Untitled (All communication must cease)
David Shrigley
Fine Art Drawings - 36.5 x 28 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 14.4 x 11 x 0.8 inch
$9,500
Christophe Charbonnel
Le centaure, Chiron
Christophe Charbonnel
Sculpture - 146 x 48 x 80 cm Sculpture - 57.5 x 18.9 x 31.5 inch
$66,976
Orphée III semi-monumentale
Christophe Charbonnel
Sculpture - 125 x 44 x 46 cm Sculpture - 49.2 x 17.3 x 18.1 inch
$66,976
Cavalier II Bronze
Christophe Charbonnel
Sculpture - 57 x 63 x 30 cm Sculpture - 22.4 x 24.8 x 11.8 inch
$24,279
Orphée Monumental
Christophe Charbonnel
Sculpture - 220 x 141 x 85 cm Sculpture - 86.6 x 55.5 x 33.5 inch
$167,441
Dryade II
Christophe Charbonnel
Sculpture - 51 x 48 x 48 cm Sculpture - 20.1 x 18.9 x 18.9 inch
$20,093
Fabien Novarino
Kristen pop
Fabien Novarino
Photography - 80 x 80 x 2 cm Photography - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch
$1,105
Philippe Buil
Bouteille Champagne Prince 17-24
Philippe Buil
Sculpture - 30 x 13 x 13 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 5.1 x 5.1 inch
$1,116
Pavarti Cantatrice
Philippe Buil
Sculpture - 35 x 15 x 13 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 5.9 x 5.1 inch
$1,395
L'age de glace 16-24
Philippe Buil
Sculpture - 12 x 14 x 12 cm Sculpture - 4.7 x 5.5 x 4.7 inch
$670
Bouteille champagne 66-22
Philippe Buil
Sculpture - 30 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
$781
Jeu de plume 13-24
Philippe Buil
Sculpture - 32 x 30 x 10 cm Sculpture - 12.6 x 11.8 x 3.9 inch
$670
Montagne Yogi 65-22
Philippe Buil
Sculpture - 27 x 18 x 10 cm Sculpture - 10.6 x 7.1 x 3.9 inch
$1,060
Jef Aérosol
It’s been a long time coming
Jef Aérosol
Painting - 80 x 80 x 1 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0.4 inch
$5,135
De la musique avant toute chose
Jef Aérosol
Print - 60 x 60 x 0.01 cm Print - 23.6 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$781
Luo Li Rong
Je me souviens de toi
Luo Li Rong
Sculpture - 30 x 26 x 12 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 10.2 x 4.7 inch
$6,698
Porter par le vent
Luo Li Rong
Sculpture - 100 x 100 x 50 cm Sculpture - 39.4 x 39.4 x 19.7 inch
$53,023
David Ferreira
Code barre (Circus )
David Ferreira
Painting - 100 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch
$3,014
Code barre Circus
David Ferreira
Painting - 150 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 59.1 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$2,456
Toto et sa femme
David Ferreira
Painting - 100 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch
$3,014
Philip Hearsey
Shorebreak 6/9
Philip Hearsey
Sculpture - 11.5 x 34 x 13 cm Sculpture - 4.5 x 13.4 x 5.1 inch
$1,963
Second Chance [A]
Philip Hearsey
Sculpture - 55 x 35 x 16 cm Sculpture - 21.7 x 13.8 x 6.3 inch
$2,584
Hom Nguyen
Simone Veil
Hom Nguyen
Fine Art Drawings - 80 x 60 x 2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch
$14,400
Kid
Hom Nguyen
Fine Art Drawings - 80 x 60 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch
$14,400
Woman
Hom Nguyen
Fine Art Drawings - 80 x 60 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch
$10,939
La Paix
Hom Nguyen
Fine Art Drawings - 80 x 60 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch
$14,400