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
Aude Herlédan
Étude de la sculpture "Curieuse"
Aude Herlédan
Fine Art Drawings - 53 x 46 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 20.9 x 18.1 x 0.1 inch
$6,742
Priscilla Vettese
Fleurs Rêveuses #1
Priscilla Vettese
Painting - 55 x 46 x 3 cm Painting - 21.7 x 18.1 x 1.2 inch
$449
Chic Urban Bear
Priscilla Vettese
Sculpture - 18 x 27 x 10 cm Sculpture - 7.1 x 10.6 x 3.9 inch
$247 $222
Fleurs Rêveuses #2
Priscilla Vettese
Painting - 55 x 46 x 3 cm Painting - 21.7 x 18.1 x 1.2 inch
$449
Fleurs Rêveuses #3
Priscilla Vettese
Painting - 30 x 24 x 3 cm Painting - 11.8 x 9.4 x 1.2 inch
$146
Fleurs Rêveuses #5
Priscilla Vettese
Painting - 24 x 30 x 3 cm Painting - 9.4 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch
$146
Fleurs Rêveuses #4
Priscilla Vettese
Painting - 30 x 24 x 3 cm Painting - 11.8 x 9.4 x 1.2 inch
$146
Tatiana Lebedev
Experience optique _04
Tatiana Lebedev
Sculpture - 25 x 20 x 5 cm Sculpture - 9.8 x 7.9 x 2 inch
$2,697
Maxime Davoust
La Grande Victoire Graffée
Maxime Davoust
Sculpture - 100 x 70 x 70 cm Sculpture - 39.4 x 27.6 x 27.6 inch
$6,517
Buste doryphore jaune
Maxime Davoust
Sculpture - 45 x 20 x 20 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch
$562
Petite Victoire Jaune
Maxime Davoust
Sculpture - 33 x 25 x 25 cm Sculpture - 13 x 9.8 x 9.8 inch
$1,124
Petite Vénus Bleu
Maxime Davoust
Sculpture - 35 x 10 x 8 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 3.9 x 3.1 inch
$1,124
Patrick Villas
Sans titre
Patrick Villas
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 65 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 25.6 inch
$1,348
Petit Léopard sur le rocher
Patrick Villas
Sculpture - 29 x 23 x 16 cm Sculpture - 11.4 x 9.1 x 6.3 inch
$6,742
Panthère sautant sur le rocher
Patrick Villas
Sculpture - 30 x 15 x 7 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 5.9 x 2.8 inch
$3,933
Leopard II maquette
Patrick Villas
Sculpture - 28 x 60 x 30 cm Sculpture - 11 x 23.6 x 11.8 inch
$13,484
Panthère pattes croisées
Patrick Villas
Sculpture - 56 x 70 x 45 cm Sculpture - 22 x 27.6 x 17.7 inch
$28,092
Antonio Saura
Martin Whatson
Beyond the Wall
Martin Whatson
Painting - 162.56 x 243.84 x 2.54 cm Painting - 64 x 96 x 1 inch
$100,000
Urban Camouflage
Martin Whatson
Painting - 207 x 147.3 x 2.54 cm Painting - 81.5 x 58 x 1 inch
$45,000
Add Fuel
Home Street Home, épreuve d'artiste AP
Add Fuel
Print - 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$899
Carlos Cruz-Diez
Chromointerference manipulable la difference
Carlos Cruz-Diez
Sculpture - 40 x 35 x 10 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 13.8 x 3.9 inch
$11,967
Cromovela triptych 13
Carlos Cruz-Diez
Sculpture - 60 x 50 x 13 cm Sculpture - 23.6 x 19.7 x 5.1 inch
$21,294
Couleur a l’espace ariel
Carlos Cruz-Diez
Sculpture - 52 x 12 x 12 cm Sculpture - 20.5 x 4.7 x 4.7 inch
$13,765
Couleur à l’espace nova
Carlos Cruz-Diez
Sculpture - 52 x 12 x 12 cm Sculpture - 20.5 x 4.7 x 4.7 inch
$13,765
Julien Cuny
Le chaman taureau
Julien Cuny
Fine Art Drawings - 100 x 70 cm Fine Art Drawings - 39.4 x 27.6 inch
$506
Julian Opie
Heads Ian Cutout
Julian Opie
Sculpture - 35.8 x 33.9 x 10 cm Sculpture - 14.1 x 13.3 x 3.9 inch
$12,360
Dan Baldwin
Fragmented Landscape (3D)
Dan Baldwin
Design - 36 x 22 x 22 cm Design - 14.2 x 8.7 x 8.7 inch
$7,100
The Love of Pain (Pink and Silver)
Dan Baldwin
Sculpture - 25 x 18 cm Sculpture - 9.8 x 7.1 inch
$4,300
Fragmented Landscape
Dan Baldwin
Painting - 120 x 120 x 2 cm Painting - 47.2 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch
$16,800
Fragmented Landscape
Dan Baldwin
Painting - 100 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch
$14,100
Fragmented Landscape
Dan Baldwin
Painting - 100 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch
$11,300