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
Studio Snek
Frkandeldelftsblauw III
Studio Snek
Sculpture - 29 x 23.5 x 6 cm Sculpture - 11.4 x 9.3 x 2.4 inch
£336
Richard Texier
Angel Bear - 24K Gold Plated
Richard Texier
Sculpture - 22 x 18 x 16.5 cm Sculpture - 8.7 x 7.1 x 6.5 inch
£805
Peter Nottrott
Sunny Nature Adventure M 1
Peter Nottrott
Painting - 85 x 125 x 4 cm Painting - 33.5 x 49.2 x 1.6 inch
£1,244
Hot Summer Symphony XL 1
Peter Nottrott
Painting - 105 x 155 x 4 cm Painting - 41.3 x 61 x 1.6 inch
£2,586
Positive Energy Gold M 3
Peter Nottrott
Painting - 83 x 120 x 4 cm Painting - 32.7 x 47.2 x 1.6 inch
£1,244
Joyful symphony XL 3
Peter Nottrott
Painting - 155 x 105 x 4 cm Painting - 61 x 41.3 x 1.6 inch
£2,228
Gate To Heaven M 2
Peter Nottrott
Painting - 85 x 125 x 4 cm Painting - 33.5 x 49.2 x 1.6 inch
£1,244
Odin Pigelet
Teenager style
Odin Pigelet
Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 20 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.9 x 7.9 x 0 inch
£45
Homme lune
Odin Pigelet
Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 20 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.9 x 7.9 x 0 inch
£45
Harper draw
Odin Pigelet
Fine Art Drawings - 15 x 20 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.9 x 7.9 x 0 inch
£45
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
£877
Laurence Jenkell
Wrapping Bonbon Peint 'Forever'
Laurence Jenkell
Sculpture - 80 x 27 x 20 cm Sculpture - 31.5 x 10.6 x 7.9 inch
£26,849
Wrapping Bonbon Peint 'King of Spades'
Laurence Jenkell
Sculpture - 80 x 27 x 20 cm Sculpture - 31.5 x 10.6 x 7.9 inch
£25,954
Wrapping Bonbon Ferrari
Laurence Jenkell
Sculpture - 88 x 20 x 15 cm Sculpture - 34.6 x 7.9 x 5.9 inch
£22,374
Wrapping Bonbon Red
Laurence Jenkell
Sculpture - 84 x 28 x 35 cm Sculpture - 33.1 x 11 x 13.8 inch
£15,215
Wrapping BonBon Tricolors
Laurence Jenkell
Sculpture - 42 x 13 x 7 cm Sculpture - 16.5 x 5.1 x 2.8 inch
£6,265
Wrapping Bonbon Peint 'Bagatelle'
Laurence Jenkell
Sculpture - 80 x 27 x 20 cm Sculpture - 31.5 x 10.6 x 7.9 inch
£26,849
Wrapping Bonbon Smocky Fuchsia
Laurence Jenkell
Sculpture - 23 x 6 x 8 cm Sculpture - 9.1 x 2.4 x 3.1 inch
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Jaber El Mahjoub
France Miditirané
Jaber El Mahjoub
Painting - 100 x 75 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 29.5 x 1.2 inch
£761
Shake
Alejandro Moretti
The Palette Knife Of Spring
Alejandro Moretti
Painting - 60 x 35 x 1.5 cm Painting - 23.6 x 13.8 x 0.6 inch
£447 £224
The Pop Vibe Of Fashion II
Alejandro Moretti
Sculpture - 40 x 29 x 12.5 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 11.4 x 4.9 inch
£716
Molotov
Alejandro Moretti
Fine Art Drawings - 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch
£134
Her Love For Him
Alejandro Moretti
Painting - 100 x 70 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch
£626 £313
The Pop Vibe Of Fashion III
Alejandro Moretti
Sculpture - 40 x 29 x 12.5 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 11.4 x 4.9 inch
£716
The Sunrise I
Alejandro Moretti
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 42 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 16.5 x 0 inch
£260
The Sunrise III
Alejandro Moretti
Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 42 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 16.5 x 0 inch
£260
Mojito
Alejandro Moretti
Fine Art Drawings - 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch
£134
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
£1,200
The Space Between - Viridian V1
Sophie Derrick
Painting - 150 x 100 x 5 cm Painting - 59.1 x 39.4 x 2 inch
£6,500
Mirrored Case - Jewel Sapphire
Sophie Derrick
Sculpture - 39 x 27 x 5.5 cm Sculpture - 15.4 x 10.6 x 2.2 inch
£1,800
Close to nothing (Yellow)
Sophie Derrick
Photography - 42 x 30 x 8 cm Photography - 16.5 x 11.8 x 3.1 inch
£1,200
Close to nothing (Blue)
Sophie Derrick
Photography - 42 x 30 x 8 cm Photography - 16.5 x 11.8 x 3.1 inch
£1,200
Laid Bare - Sage + Gold #6
Sophie Derrick
Print - 59.4 x 42 x 0.2 cm Print - 23.4 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch
£545
Max Yaskin
Berit Louise Sara-Grønn
Echoes in another pace
Berit Louise Sara-Grønn
Painting - 200 x 197 x 4 cm Painting - 78.7 x 77.6 x 1.6 inch
£10,237
Sing what’s out of reach
Berit Louise Sara-Grønn
Painting - 250 x 200 x 4 cm Painting - 98.4 x 78.7 x 1.6 inch
£10,130
Moving like she’s got diamonds
Berit Louise Sara-Grønn
Painting - 110 x 110 x 4 cm Painting - 43.3 x 43.3 x 1.6 inch
£4,669
In a reverie she saw The fox on a mast
Berit Louise Sara-Grønn
Painting - 170 x 130 x 4 cm Painting - 66.9 x 51.2 x 1.6 inch
£5,974
Feather bow
Berit Louise Sara-Grønn
Painting - 250 x 200 x 4 cm Painting - 98.4 x 78.7 x 1.6 inch
£10,129
Houdini notion
Berit Louise Sara-Grønn
Painting - 237 x 160 x 4 cm Painting - 93.3 x 63 x 1.6 inch
£10,071
Are you there yet
Berit Louise Sara-Grønn
Painting - 217 x 188 x 1 cm Painting - 85.4 x 74 x 0.4 inch
£6,865