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
Ad Van Hassel
Pop Art Communication x Haring x 24/7 (yellow)
Ad Van Hassel
Sculpture - 33 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 13 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
$253
Louis Shopping Goodie Bag
Ad Van Hassel
Design - 35 x 26 x 12 cm Design - 13.8 x 10.2 x 4.7 inch
$893
Pop Art Communication x Haring x 24/7 (white)
Ad Van Hassel
Sculpture - 33 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 13 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
$253
Pop Art Communication x Haring x 24/7 (purple)
Ad Van Hassel
Sculpture - 33 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 13 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
$253
Luxury Art Toffee - Rust (CC)
Ad Van Hassel
Sculpture - 33 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 13 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
$253
Jean-Jacques Joujon
Ruban infini éclats de verres rouges
Jean-Jacques Joujon
Sculpture - 30 x 50 x 30 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 19.7 x 11.8 inch
$1,067
Cubes Equilibre Translucide
Jean-Jacques Joujon
Sculpture - 60 x 25 x 25 cm Sculpture - 23.6 x 9.8 x 9.8 inch
$966
Ruban Infini multicolore
Jean-Jacques Joujon
Sculpture - 35 x 35 x 18 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 13.8 x 7.1 inch
$1,067
Nuancier cubes
Jean-Jacques Joujon
Sculpture - 41 x 36 x 6 cm Sculpture - 16.1 x 14.2 x 2.4 inch
$1,112
Equilibre rouge
Jean-Jacques Joujon
Sculpture - 60 x 25 x 25 cm Sculpture - 23.6 x 9.8 x 9.8 inch
$966
Courbes Arc en Ciel I
Jean-Jacques Joujon
Sculpture - 15 x 95 x 20 cm Sculpture - 5.9 x 37.4 x 7.9 inch
$1,405
Ruban infini éclats de verres bleus
Jean-Jacques Joujon
Sculpture - 30 x 50 x 30 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 19.7 x 11.8 inch
$1,006
Javier Rey
I am fleeting #14. From I am fleeting Series
Javier Rey
Photography - 73 x 110 x 0.3 cm Photography - 28.7 x 43.3 x 0.1 inch
$1,450
Scott Troxel
Go Segawa
Egg in Jelly I (UV print: large)
Go Segawa
Sculpture - 35.2 x 16.9 x 16.9 cm Sculpture - 13.9 x 6.7 x 6.7 inch
$1,348
Bernard Buffet
Bastide en Provence
Bernard Buffet
Painting - 50 x 65 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 25.6 x 0.8 inch
$110,120
Le Toréador Escamillo (Grand format)
Bernard Buffet
Print - 100 x 65 x 0.3 cm Print - 39.4 x 25.6 x 0.1 inch
$8,428
Tête de Torero (Rehaussée)
Bernard Buffet
Print - 74 x 54 x 0.3 cm Print - 29.1 x 21.3 x 0.1 inch
$5,057
cObo
PyB
Jean-Paul Jacquet
Convergence animalière
Jean-Paul Jacquet
Sculpture - 40 x 70 x 15 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 27.6 x 5.9 inch
$1,573
Le chien cheval
Jean-Paul Jacquet
Sculpture - 30 x 55 x 17 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 21.7 x 6.7 inch
$1,348
Nolwenn Samson
Fire in my soul
Nolwenn Samson
Painting - 180 x 180 x 6 cm Painting - 70.9 x 70.9 x 2.4 inch
$14,046
Does My Happiness Upset you ?!
Nolwenn Samson
Painting - 65 x 54 x 2 cm Painting - 25.6 x 21.3 x 0.8 inch
$2,809
Aqueous transmission
Nolwenn Samson
Painting - 100 x 100 x 1.5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.6 inch
$5,394 $5,070
Brandon Vickerd
Illumination, Version III
Brandon Vickerd
Sculpture - 185.4 x 40.6 x 45.7 cm Sculpture - 73 x 16 x 18 inch
$19,102
Wildlife Passenger– Sitting
Brandon Vickerd
Sculpture - 33 x 11.5 x 11.5 cm Sculpture - 13 x 4.5 x 4.5 inch
$2,000
Wildlife Passenger –Standing
Brandon Vickerd
Sculpture - 33 x 11.5 x 11.5 cm Sculpture - 13 x 4.5 x 4.5 inch
$2,000
Golden Ghost (small)
Brandon Vickerd
Sculpture - 152.4 x 43.2 x 40.6 cm Sculpture - 60 x 17 x 16 inch
$24,721
Model for Monument to the White Squirrel
Brandon Vickerd
Sculpture - 30.5 x 30.5 x 20.3 cm Sculpture - 12 x 12 x 8 inch
$6,742