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
Quentin Garel
Petit crâne d'oiseau
Quentin Garel
Sculpture - 25 x 26 x 14 cm Sculpture - 9.8 x 10.2 x 5.5 inch
Sold
Agnès K.
Yugen bois serpent aluminium
Agnès K.
Sculpture - 40 x 40 x 3 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch
$944
Miguel Branco
Untitled (Diana)
Miguel Branco
Sculpture - 25 x 36 x 10.5 cm Sculpture - 9.8 x 14.2 x 4.1 inch
$6,180
Landscape with submarine (After Joachim Patinir)
Miguel Branco
Painting - 14.5 x 31 x 2 cm Painting - 5.7 x 12.2 x 0.8 inch
$3,933
Paradox Créations
L'heure bleue
Paradox Créations
Sculpture - 55 x 70 x 50 cm Sculpture - 21.7 x 27.6 x 19.7 inch
$1,573
Le meilleur des mondes
Paradox Créations
Sculpture - 135 x 200 x 100 cm Sculpture - 53.1 x 78.7 x 39.4 inch
$3,820
Mitch Richmond
Tribute - Gladiator
Mitch Richmond
Sculpture - 23 x 23 x 10 cm Sculpture - 9.1 x 9.1 x 3.9 inch
$674 $607
LA C.A.P. One, Cité des Anges
Mitch Richmond
Sculpture - 15 x 27 x 18 cm Sculpture - 5.9 x 10.6 x 7.1 inch
$674
The Alchemist - Dark Vador
Mitch Richmond
Sculpture - 28 x 28 x 27 cm Sculpture - 11 x 11 x 10.6 inch
$1,112
NY C.A.P. One - Au sommet du monde
Mitch Richmond
Sculpture - 15 x 27 x 18 cm Sculpture - 5.9 x 10.6 x 7.1 inch
$674
Saber NOX - Sabre Laser
Mitch Richmond
Sculpture - 29 x 6 x 4 cm Sculpture - 11.4 x 2.4 x 1.6 inch
$787
Voyager - Daft Punk
Mitch Richmond
Sculpture - 22 x 23 x 32 cm Sculpture - 8.7 x 9.1 x 12.6 inch
Sold
Hunter - Casque Mandalorian
Mitch Richmond
Sculpture - 25 x 24 x 27 cm Sculpture - 9.8 x 9.4 x 10.6 inch
Sold
Christine Marie Nobre
Patriarche
Christine Marie Nobre
Sculpture - 35 x 30 x 26 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 11.8 x 10.2 inch
$899
Franchissement
Christine Marie Nobre
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$955
Jeon Baek Jin
Codina Corona
Hunt Cartridge belt
Codina Corona
Sculpture - 30 x 25 x 20 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 9.8 x 7.9 inch
$2,697
Jyoti Tyagi
Mark Leputa
Under pale grey skies
Mark Leputa
Sculpture - 24 x 26 x 22 cm Sculpture - 9.4 x 10.2 x 8.7 inch
Sold