Animal sculpture is a sculptural style in its own right. This specific genre deserves the same recognition as nude, marble, bronze and resin sculptures.
The representation of animals and anthropomorphism has long been a source of inspiration for sculptural creations and yet it was once considered a minor genre in Western European decorative arts. Ironically, animal sculpture was of the utmost importance to Ancient civilizations. Countless ancient Egyptian buildings for example were adorned with grandiose representations of felines and Sphinxes. More generally within the visual arts, animals were rarely represented in their own right, and were often depicted accompanying or symbolizing mythological figures or even character traits.
Aside from its mythical representations, animal sculptures were also popular with suzerain states who used monumental bronze sculptures of lions or eagles to symbolise the immensity of their power.
However, it wasn't until 1831 that the sculptor Antoine-Louis Barye finally established animal sculpture as a noble art, thanks to his work "Tiger devouring a Gavial Crocodile" at the Salon de Paris. It was no longer fashionable to depict animals as unreal, mythological creatures in the decorative arts and instead naturalism and realistic representations of animals characterized the sculpture of the period. Ideas about nature's wealth and abundance meant that all creatures deserved to be carefully and meticulously recreated in the closest likeness possible. Mythical animal interpretations were left behind and artists concentrated on capturing the finer details of an animal's fur, muscles or mouth.
A new wave of renowned sculptors emerged. Pierre-Jules Mêne, Antoine Aigon and Jean Germain Demay are just a few examples of some of these pioneering artists. Particularly interested in 'exotic' species (snakes, gazelles, elephants, giraffes, hippopotamuses…), they all explored representing the natural world in a variety of different ways.
In the 20th century, realist tendencies gradually faded away and a new group of creative minds began to experiment with animal sculpture as part of the shift towards modern sculpture.
Numerous artists tried their hand at animal sculpture whilst applying new aesthetic criteria which was largely influenced by modern and contemporary art movements: Abstract art, Impressionism, Cubism, Expressionism. Guided by key surrealist influences, which could not have been further removed from the traditional styles of the past century, a new bestiary was created. Pablo Picasso and Alberto Giacometti were among the key figures who helped to reinvent the way artists endeavored to sculpt animals.
In contemporary animal sculpture, radically redefining artistic techniques and the way we represent living beings has taken precedence over realistic proportion sizes and lifelike features. Artists no longer refrain from accentuating a particular body part, removing a limb for example or creating an entirely new hybrid beast. However, many artists are also skilled at creating hyper-realistic animals that seem so real they almost appear to be alive.
To help you get an idea of the latest animal sculptures, take a look at Artsper's collection of sculpted animals, selected from some of the best contemporary art galleries and made by artists including Jaques Dufrane, Raymundo Fabian Melchor and Roxana y Jesus Hernandez.
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Helle Rask Crawford
Newborn Fowl, 2022
9 x 16 x 10 cm3.5 x 6.3 x 3.9 inchSculpture
$1,020
Richard Orlinski
Crocodile facette bleu mick, 2022
11 x 30 x 12 cm4.3 x 11.8 x 4.7 inchSculpture
$4,370
Philippe Geluck
Le mini Chat au journal, 2022
21 x 15 x 15 cm8.3 x 5.9 x 5.9 inchSculpture
$1,197
Ti'Ou
Barracuda craquelé, 2021
30 x 30 x 87 cm11.8 x 11.8 x 34.3 inchSculpture
$1,759
Sandrine Piani
Bad Mood, 2022
20 x 20 x 20 cm7.9 x 7.9 x 7.9 inchSculpture
$4,682
Ventsislav Markov
Forward, 2022
16 x 14 x 8 cm6.3 x 5.5 x 3.1 inchSculpture
$728
Petra Dorst
Reading Together Sky & Misty SIII, 2021
38 x 24 x 20 cm15 x 9.4 x 7.9 inchSculpture
$4,110
Bastien Bonhomme
Nérée, 2022
32 x 11 x 9 cm12.6 x 4.3 x 3.5 inchSculpture
$2,809
Jean-Claude Gaillard
Cochon Punk (Série Copains comme cochons), 2019
5 x 8 x 5 cm2 x 3.1 x 2 inchSculpture
$468
Elisabeth Dupin-Sjöstedt
Cavalier 3, 2022
68 x 22.5 x 9 cm26.8 x 8.9 x 3.5 inchSculpture
$2,081
Tobia Ravà
1477 Pantera Dark Nera, 2017
26.5 x 110 x 21 cm10.4 x 43.3 x 8.3 inchSculpture
Sold
Gaël Rouxeville
L'air marin, 2019
45 x 22 x 18 cm17.7 x 8.7 x 7.1 inchSculpture
$1,301
Jean-François Gambino
Tête de jeune Orang-Outan, 2022
21 x 14 x 15 cm8.3 x 5.5 x 5.9 inchSculpture
$3,642
Pierre Mouzat
La reine des sables, 2022
25 x 42 x 9 cm9.8 x 16.5 x 3.5 inchSculpture
$7,804
Cyril Maccioni
Black wolf-fire impact, 2022
30 x 14.5 x 19 cm11.8 x 5.7 x 7.5 inchSculpture
$2,705
Thierry Benenati
Elephant-roses, 2015
52 x 77 x 40 cm20.5 x 30.3 x 15.7 inchSculpture
$35,378
Lucie Linder
Poulpe, 2016
30 x 50 x 13 cm11.8 x 19.7 x 5.1 inchSculpture
$1,249
Ghost Art
The abstract eagle, 2022
190 x 85 x 77 cm74.8 x 33.5 x 30.3 inchSculpture
$20,290
Hassan Laamirat
Cerf en métal recyclé, 2022
245 x 140 x 215 cm96.5 x 55.1 x 84.6 inchSculpture
$4,318
Alain Quercia
Cheval sur un banc, 2019
22 x 18 x 9 cm8.7 x 7.1 x 3.5 inchSculpture
$6,243
Pascal Chesneau
La girafe, 2022
86 x 110 x 20 cm33.9 x 43.3 x 7.9 inchSculpture
$7,180
Maïté Martinez
Il était une fois, 2019
13 x 17 x 14 cm5.1 x 6.7 x 5.5 inchSculpture
$4,995
François Rambaud
Ours Polaire Danseur, 2022
40 x 18 x 18 cm15.7 x 7.1 x 7.1 inchSculpture
$468
Sylvie Debray Artiste Bxl
La course aux escargots, 2022
21 x 13 x 32 cm8.3 x 5.1 x 12.6 inchSculpture
$3,111
Dananjaya Edirisinghe
Bella, 2022
33 x 34 x 5 cm13 x 13.4 x 2 inchSculpture
$208
Isabelle Carabantes
Eléphant (V), 2021
26 x 18.5 x 42 cm10.2 x 7.3 x 16.5 inchSculpture
$4,370
Didier Becquart
Papillon, 2016
63 x 106 x 82 cm24.8 x 41.7 x 32.3 inchSculpture
$14,047
Noël Granger
Meuh Graffitis !, 2022
18.5 x 27 x 10 cm7.3 x 10.6 x 3.9 inchSculpture
$302
Chanoir
Cha Basketteur, 2021
80 x 80 x 3 cm31.5 x 31.5 x 1.2 inchSculpture
$4,839
Valerie Marty
Piafs poprock L, 2022
32 x 15 x 20 cm12.6 x 5.9 x 7.9 inchSculpture
$1,301
Hannes D'Haese
Bull, 2020
22 x 33 x 15 cm8.7 x 13 x 5.9 inchSculpture
$156
Helena Troyanskaya
White Horse, 2022
33 x 22 x 12.5 cm13 x 8.7 x 4.9 inchSculpture
$740
Mr Live
Croco Porsche, 2022
24 x 133 x 78 cm9.4 x 52.4 x 30.7 inchSculpture
$2,601
Clemyart
Bruits sous l'océan, 2022
17 x 18 x 18 cm6.7 x 7.1 x 7.1 inchSculpture
$208
MrHope
Toy pink, 2022
18 x 13 x 10 cm7.1 x 5.1 x 3.9 inchSculpture
$135
Elvire Ménétrier
Drooling, 2021
18 x 10 x 5 cm7.1 x 3.9 x 2 inchSculpture
$624
Benjamin Pietri
Playboy Lips, 2022
26 x 19.5 x 5.5 cm10.2 x 7.7 x 2.2 inchSculpture
$333
Art By Son
Tattoo dog, 2022
80 x 115 x 40 cm31.5 x 45.3 x 15.7 inchSculpture
$3,590
Priscilla Vettese
Freedom Elephant, 2022
14 x 18 x 6 cm5.5 x 7.1 x 2.4 inchSculpture
$198
Christophe Comerro
Vegas Bulldog Chanel Fashion, 2021
40 x 32 x 50 cm15.7 x 12.6 x 19.7 inchSculpture
$1,228
Yves Klein
L'Ours Pompon - Edition Yves Klein, 2022
27 x 49 x 19 cm10.6 x 19.3 x 7.5 inchSculpture
$6,763
Nouna
Pop birds peace & love orange, 2022
27 x 21 x 7 cm10.6 x 8.3 x 2.8 inchSculpture
$2,809
Fratz & Gio
Pitchou cute puple rain, 2022
47 x 25 x 50 cm18.5 x 9.8 x 19.7 inchSculpture
$6,451
Jean Amiel
Pélican au petit bec, 2016
24 x 17 x 15 cm9.4 x 6.7 x 5.9 inchSculpture
$1,873
Javier de la Rosa
Dardo I green, 2018
150 x 20 x 20 cm59.1 x 7.9 x 7.9 inchSculpture
$1,603
Adeline Weber Guibal
Licorne, 2022
21 x 25 x 7.5 cm8.3 x 9.8 x 3 inchSculpture
$1,561
Valerian Sioridzé
Éléphant de Namibie, 2020
29 x 39 x 15 cm11.4 x 15.4 x 5.9 inchSculpture
$1,457
Jim Budish
Stargazer, 2020
99.06 x 5.08 x 5.08 cm39 x 2 x 2 inchSculpture
Price upon request
Yves Celaire
Ours étoilé, 2020
31 x 20 x 5 cm12.2 x 7.9 x 2 inchSculpture
$1,873
Philippe Berry
Equilibre d'Eléphants, 2011
62 x 16 x 16 cm24.4 x 6.3 x 6.3 inchSculpture
$3,954
Patrick Villas
Tête de lion III, 2019
63 x 42 x 45 cm24.8 x 16.5 x 17.7 inchSculpture
$18,730
Art Kristin
Chanel Brick Doggy Black and White, 2022
18 x 28 x 14 cm7.1 x 11 x 5.5 inchSculpture
$624
Brandon Vickerd
Wildlife Passenger –Standing, 2015
33 x 11.5 x 11.5 cm13 x 4.5 x 4.5 inchSculpture
$2,000
William Sweetlove
Cloned Bulldog with pet bottle, 2011
47 x 50 x 20 cm18.5 x 19.7 x 7.9 inchSculpture
$6,763
Yoann Merienne
Corbeau II, 2020
49.5 x 62 x 31 cm19.5 x 24.4 x 12.2 inchSculpture
$10,405
Cévé
Oscaril 2/8, 2019
7 x 16 x 8 cm2.8 x 6.3 x 3.1 inchSculpture
$1,353
Vassil
Ruade, 2011
22 x 33 x 15 cm8.7 x 13 x 5.9 inchSculpture
$4,058
Thierry Dehais
Grand chien, 2007
31 x 51 x 11 cm12.2 x 20.1 x 4.3 inchSculpture
$1,665
Pierre Ilhat
Petit chat, 2019
10 x 14 x 10 cm3.9 x 5.5 x 3.9 inchSculpture
$936
Laurent Deguitre
Tribute to some surrealists, 2021
8 x 6 x 6 cm3.1 x 2.4 x 2.4 inchSculpture
$936
Art'Mony
Bouledogue qui lève la patte, 2022
58 x 40 x 30 cm22.8 x 15.7 x 11.8 inchSculpture
$1,378
Saône De Stalh
Thal, 2017
36 x 38 x 20 cm14.2 x 15 x 7.9 inchSculpture
$1,665
Tegan Pick
Pomme d'Eve, 2021
9.5 x 11 x 10 cm3.7 x 4.3 x 3.9 inchSculpture
$1,145
Julio Alonso Yañez
El tigre y las cabras con instrumento y espejo / le tigre et les chevres avec instrument et miroir, 2020
60 x 23 x 3.5 cm23.6 x 9.1 x 1.4 inchSculpture
$1,873
Danielle Le Bricquir
Le petit prince et le renard, 2021
36 x 40 x 5 cm14.2 x 15.7 x 2 inchSculpture
$1,873
Christine Guillemin
Arabian Panther, 2018
25 x 49 x 10 cm9.8 x 19.3 x 3.9 inchSculpture
$7,076
Jenny Jacottet
Impulsion, 2018
35 x 22 x 12 cm13.8 x 8.7 x 4.7 inchSculpture
$2,081
Florence Jacquesson
Bouledogue Anglais, 2020
17 x 16 x 14 cm6.7 x 6.3 x 5.5 inchSculpture
$4,682
Nona Gabrielyan
Centaur, 2005
16 x 16 x 8 cm6.3 x 6.3 x 3.1 inchSculpture
$1,769
Thierry Lefevre-Grave
Matadore, 1994
19 x 10 x 14 cm7.5 x 3.9 x 5.5 inchSculpture
$1,769
Arnaud Kasper
Cheval des Lumières, 2018
84 x 30 x 56 cm33.1 x 11.8 x 22 inchSculpture
$18,938
Steve Chaudanson
Dog XL noir mat, 2022
58 x 60 x 60 cm22.8 x 23.6 x 23.6 inchSculpture
$1,717
Jean-Luc Garioud
Gare à la bête, 2017
18 x 16 x 15 cm7.1 x 6.3 x 5.9 inchSculpture