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
Alla Grande
The little white butterflies
Alla Grande
Painting - 100 x 80 x 4 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 1.6 inch
$2,233
The golden butterfly
Alla Grande
Sculpture - 100 x 100 x 5 cm Sculpture - 39.4 x 39.4 x 2 inch
$2,567
The pearl butterfly
Alla Grande
Sculpture - 100 x 100 x 5 cm Sculpture - 39.4 x 39.4 x 2 inch
$2,567
Carlos Purroy
Lost in the Snow
Carlos Purroy
Sculpture - 55 x 30 x 19 cm Sculpture - 21.7 x 11.8 x 7.5 inch
$3,349
Supported the Rings
Carlos Purroy
Sculpture - 51 x 33 x 27 cm Sculpture - 20.1 x 13 x 10.6 inch
$4,465
Sophie Derrick
Close to nothing (Pink)
Sophie Derrick
Photography - 42 x 30 x 8 cm Photography - 16.5 x 11.8 x 3.1 inch
$1,570
The Space Between - Viridian V1
Sophie Derrick
Painting - 150 x 100 x 5 cm Painting - 59.1 x 39.4 x 2 inch
$8,505
Mirrored Case - Jewel Sapphire
Sophie Derrick
Sculpture - 39 x 27 x 5.5 cm Sculpture - 15.4 x 10.6 x 2.2 inch
$2,355
Close to nothing (Yellow)
Sophie Derrick
Photography - 42 x 30 x 8 cm Photography - 16.5 x 11.8 x 3.1 inch
$1,570
Close to nothing (Blue)
Sophie Derrick
Photography - 42 x 30 x 8 cm Photography - 16.5 x 11.8 x 3.1 inch
$1,570
Freda People Art
Abstract Guernica Collection - Tribute to Picasso
Freda People Art
Painting - 105 x 105 x 0.3 cm Painting - 41.3 x 41.3 x 0.1 inch
$1,674
Working on Pop Art (Warning Sign)
Freda People Art
Sculpture - 82.6 x 73 x 7.6 cm Sculpture - 32.5 x 28.75 x 3 inch
$1,600
Rare Lichtenstein Street Art Girl 2
Freda People Art
Painting - 105 x 105 x 0.3 cm Painting - 41.3 x 41.3 x 0.1 inch
$1,340
Rare Lichtenstein Street Art Girl
Freda People Art
Painting - 105 x 105 x 0.3 cm Painting - 41.3 x 41.3 x 0.1 inch
$1,340
Rare Bored Ape Bowie
Freda People Art
Painting - 105 x 105 x 0.3 cm Painting - 41.3 x 41.3 x 0.1 inch
$1,105
Banksy and Haring
Freda People Art
Painting - 105 x 105 x 0.3 cm Painting - 41.3 x 41.3 x 0.1 inch
$1,105
Rare Bored Ape Street Art 2
Freda People Art
Painting - 105 x 105 x 0.3 cm Painting - 41.3 x 41.3 x 0.1 inch
$1,105
Peppone
Patopalomo
Tinta
Patopalomo
Fine Art Drawings - 41 x 33 x 0.34 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.1 x 13 x 0.1 inch
$513
David Cumps
Il pleut sur Paris II
David Cumps
Painting - 120 x 70 x 2 cm Painting - 47.2 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch
$2,456
Alfonso Garcia
Flor de amanecer
Alfonso Garcia
Sculpture - 120 x 30 x 3 cm Sculpture - 47.2 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch
$11,479
Caminante sin camino
Alfonso Garcia
Sculpture - 63 x 12 x 3 cm Sculpture - 24.8 x 4.7 x 1.2 inch
$6,516
J'aime ma vie. Rêves de ballerine
Alfonso Garcia
Sculpture - 90 x 15 x 3 cm Sculpture - 35.4 x 5.9 x 1.2 inch
$8,170
Fleur en papier doré VIII
Alfonso Garcia
Sculpture - 63 x 26 x 3 cm Sculpture - 24.8 x 10.2 x 1.2 inch
$7,343
Caroline Corbeau
Jesus Campos
Les espaces de Penseur de Rodin
Jesus Campos
Sculpture - 30 x 14 x 15 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 5.5 x 5.9 inch
$1,094
Les espaces de Penseur de Rodin Feu Rouge
Jesus Campos
Sculpture - 30 x 14 x 15 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 5.5 x 5.9 inch
$1,094
Jordi Díez Fernández
Ouvertüre
Jordi Díez Fernández
Sculpture - 235 x 168 x 110 cm Sculpture - 92.5 x 66.1 x 43.3 inch
$200,929
Árbol Inveritdo
Jordi Díez Fernández
Sculpture - 60 x 40 x 30 cm Sculpture - 23.6 x 15.7 x 11.8 inch
$18,910
Tribute to Lita Cabellur
Jordi Díez Fernández
Sculpture - 270 x 180 x 120 cm Sculpture - 106.3 x 70.9 x 47.2 inch
Sold
Horizon Head
Jordi Díez Fernández
Sculpture - 180 x 400 x 80 cm Sculpture - 70.9 x 157.5 x 31.5 inch
Sold
Julien Marinetti
Bouddha Rieur
Julien Marinetti
Sculpture - 34 x 37 x 34 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 14.6 x 13.4 inch
$24,000
Crane Tika ( Skull )
Julien Marinetti
Sculpture - 26 x 25 x 30 cm Sculpture - 10.2 x 9.8 x 11.8 inch
$16,013