Steel Sculpture
Steel sculpture appeared in art during the twentieth century. In previous centuries precious metals were the most frequently used in sculpture but the industrial revolution and urbanisation led to a wider use of more commonplace metals, including steel. Before that, bronze, a very resistant material, had been the medium of choice for sculptors creating artworks that would be installed outdoors.
Unlike other metals, steel is easily malleable at a high temperature. Stainless steel has the advantage of being very resistant to rust and harsh weather conditions, making it an ideal choice for outdoor sculptures. Indeed, over the course of the twentieth century it was often used for this purpose. Steel sculptures were used, and continue to be used, to decorate and enhance public spaces in cities as well as gardens.
One of the artists most well-known for his use of steel is Richard Serra. The material occupied a core part of his minimalist practice. In his early work, he used sheets of steel as well as steel rolls which were carefully balanced on the ground. To prevent the material from degrading and changing over time in an uncontrolled way, he coated the pieces with a solution which made them appear rusted. Later on in his career, Serra focussed on site-specific, monumental sculptures. His works were influenced by the environment they were destined for and thus perfectly suited to it. The curves of the sculptures encourage viewers to walk around them while the their impressive size dwarfs the viewers and leads them to reflect on the perception they have of their bodies in relation to indoor and outdoor spaces.
Another artist famous for his gigantic steel sculptures is Bernar Venet. You can find his huge steel arches in cities all over the world and you'll also find some of his artworks on Artsper.
Amongst the greatest sculptors working in steel, there is of course Alexander Calder, who succeeded in creating sculptures of surprising delicacy despite the hardness of the material. His colourful mobiles have become iconic artworks. How can such a dense material appear so light and frail? His sculptures are part of the kinetic art movement and the careful equilibrium that Calder achieved so deftly continues to fascinate viewers.
In a very different style, César also used steel, among other materials, to create works that are far less elegant. His “Compression" sculptures used lead, iron and steel to criticise our consumerist society.
Steel continues to be used by today's contemporary sculptors, mainly for monumental sculptures. Indeed, several contemporary artists have demonstrated a mastery of steel. Chief among them, is Jeff Koons and his famous "Balloon Dog" made of stainless steel with a colored mirror finish surface. With steel, Jeff Koons turned the ephemeral balloon dog into an almost eternal work. Another well-known example is Chicago's "Cloud Gate" sculpture by Anish Kapoor.
On Artsper, you will find modern and contemporary sculptures from the most important art galleries, including the artist Philippe Buil who uses steel to create elegant and poetic sculptures, Nicolas Dubreuille and his colorful and minimalist sculptures, or Paradox Creations which is inspired by Alexander Calder's mobiles.
Arno Sebban
Shade, 2022 24.4 x 7.9 x 4.7 inch Sculpture
$1,769
Nicolas Delage
Sculpture turquoise, 2022 15.7 x 21.7 x 15 inch Sculpture
$1,249
Lonzi
La brume, 2022 22 x 18.9 x 3.9 inch Sculpture
$926
Irena Tone
Paper Pin..., 2020 14.2 x 4.3 x 3.9 inch Sculpture
$2,466
Rémy Aillaud
Ferrari rocket, 2022 59.1 x 11.8 x 11.8 inch Sculpture
$6,763
Patrick Néel
Nébuleuse, 2022 20.9 x 13.8 x 11.4 inch Sculpture
$2,601
Norman Gekko
Recycling Rolex, 2020 19.7 x 9.8 x 5.9 inch Sculpture
$1,249
Réjane LeChat
Dialogue à queue, 2022 17.3 x 17.3 x 5.9 inch Sculpture
$1,873
Aramis Justiz
Distortion IV, 2022 19.7 x 17.3 x 7.9 inch Sculpture
$1,561
Ekaterina Malkina
Hero, 2017 32.7 x 5.9 x 8.3 inch Sculpture
$1,110
Gil.S
Auto portrait, 2022 16.5 x 7.5 x 4.7 inch Sculpture
$832
Arsen
Bidonnage, 2022 15 x 5.9 x 4.7 inch Sculpture
$989
Pica
Une dernière goutte, 2022 15.7 x 15.7 x 3.9 inch Sculpture
$1,249
Daniil Danailov
Golden strings 2, 2022 39.4 x 14.6 x 1.6 inch Sculpture
$989
Joe Sorge
Goody Blue Shoes, 2021 32 x 18 x 12 inch Sculpture
$3,600
Guillaume Roche
Genome 8, 2022 68.9 x 43.3 x 27.6 inch Sculpture
$16,649
John Clement
Lucia, 2016 30.7 x 17.7 x 17.7 inch Sculpture
$20,700
Joel Douek
Deep forest, 2021 24 x 10 x 10 inch Sculpture
$4,995
Michelangelo Pistoletto
Amare, 2006 9.8 x 44.5 x 1.2 inch Sculpture
$7,284
Pascal Buclon
Mick rouge, 2022 24 x 21.3 x 13 inch Sculpture
$1,665
You Wu
Love is Melting, 2022 21.3 x 31.5 x 7.9 inch Sculpture
$13,943
Olivier Lannaud
Médusa III, 2022 14.8 x 14.8 x 1.6 inch Sculpture
$3,018
Tim Roosen
Mitch, 2022 33.5 x 10.2 x 9.1 inch Sculpture
$2,959
Philippe Buil
Cœur sur cœur 75-22, 2022 5.5 x 5.5 x 3.1 inch Sculpture
$271
Suketchi
Max Verstappen F1 Barrel, 2022 23.2 x 14.2 x 14.2 inch Sculpture
$1,035
Léa Poncharal
Flash Amor, 2022 29.5 x 27.6 x 15.7 inch Sculpture
$5,723
Agnès Lacombe
Mister Bob N°2 + Acétone, 2020 68.9 x 31.5 x 31.5 inch Sculpture
$3,226
David Moreno
Subir o bajar_III, 2020 18.9 x 7.9 x 23.6 inch Sculpture
Price upon request
Frédérick Mazoir
Magmatisme 07, 2020 9.1 x 2.8 x 1.6 inch Sculpture
$1,665
Caroline Brisset
Baïonnette N (CB45), 2018 22 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch Sculpture
$1,145
Maxime Plancque
#130, 2020 11 x 8.3 x 2.8 inch Sculpture
$1,873
Jenny Jacottet
Impulsion, 2018 13.8 x 8.7 x 4.7 inch Sculpture
$2,081
Michel Audiard
Passage Mick Jagger, 2019 25.6 x 17.7 x 0.4 inch Sculpture
$1,249
Vasya Dmytryk
Seducer, 2019 15 x 12.4 x 3.5 inch Sculpture
$1,500
Jean-Jacques Joujon
Cubes Equilibre Translucide, 2021 23.6 x 9.8 x 9.8 inch Sculpture
$895
Steve Chaudanson
Dog XL noir mat, 2022 22.8 x 23.6 x 23.6 inch Sculpture
$1,717
Lucio Del Pezzo
Piccolo Arcobaleno, 1971 6.3 x 13.8 x 5.5 inch Sculpture
$1,665
Jean-No
Sphère N°13, 2021 7.9 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch Sculpture
$936
Tauras Kensminas
A thing no. 3, 2014 27.6 x 15.7 x 23.6 inch Sculpture
$1,041
Julien Cuny
Architectura 1, 2021 15.7 x 15.7 x 11.8 inch Sculpture
$1,457
VanBinh
Bird III, 2021 19.9 x 13.4 x 12.2 inch Sculpture
$1,436
Etienne
Losanges, 2015 8.3 x 7.1 x 3.9 inch Sculpture
$7,388
Hellen Halftermeyer
Tired, 2019 21.3 x 15 x 7.1 inch Sculpture
$1,436
Michadu
Je vois doublement Rouge, 2021 36.2 x 13.4 x 10.6 inch Sculpture
$1,769
Jean-Paul Jacquet
Trio de marcheurs, 2020 14.2 x 7.9 x 17.7 inch Sculpture
$1,873
Thierry Bamas
Albina, 2020 31.5 x 11.8 x 12.6 inch Sculpture
$1,769
François-Régis Lemonnier
Together, 2021 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch Sculpture
$1,041
Christophe Jehan
Un petit coin de ciel bleu, 2016 13.4 x 7.5 x 4.3 inch Sculpture
$1,353
Richard Texier
Angel Bear - 24K Gold Plated, 2015 8.7 x 7.1 x 6.5 inch Sculpture
$936
Sébastien Ruiz
L'explorateur, 2019 11.4 x 4.7 x 7.1 inch Sculpture
$1,353
Bernard Rives
Pig Pride, 2018 16.5 x 15.7 x 3.9 inch Sculpture
$1,821
Mpcem
Idée reçu, 2020 13.4 x 7.9 x 4.7 inch Sculpture
$1,873
Le CyKlop
Angry - No Angry, 2022 13.8 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch Sculpture
$1,561
Nicolas Dubreuille
Le rêveur, 2014 70.9 x 35.4 x 47.2 inch Sculpture
$15,608
Vincent Ochs
La danse, 2022 16.9 x 7.5 x 8.3 inch Sculpture
$978
Jihyung Nam
Dancing petals, 2020 19.7 x 13.8 x 9.8 inch Sculpture
$1,569
Anastasiya Protsenko
Seahorse, 2017 26.4 x 16.1 x 2.8 inch Sculpture
$1,561
Vladas Kanciauskas
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, 2010 15.4 x 16.5 x 7.1 inch Sculpture
$3,122
Adrienne Jalbert
Spirale Spin 'AJ57), 2018 6.3 x 6.3 x 6.3 inch Sculpture
$1,145
Béatrice Fernando
Tête de taureau, 2021 19.3 x 16.9 x 8.7 inch Sculpture
$1,561
Pierre Demonchaux
Convoyeur III (PDE24), 2015 35.4 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch Sculpture
$1,405
Shug
Shug monster N°1, 2020 19.3 x 15.7 x 3.1 inch Sculpture
$1,041
Bruno Ouvier
#22, 2020 12.6 x 7.9 x 5.9 inch Sculpture
$1,717
Sylvie Derely
Farandole, 2017 13.4 x 24.8 x 3.9 inch Sculpture
$5,723
M'Phi
La Golfeuse, 2015 16.9 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch Sculpture
$3,746
Rafal Piesliak
Element, 2021 55.1 x 1.6 x 1.6 inch Sculpture
$1,457
Bevan Ramsay
Talk to Me, 2019 54.3 x 20.1 x 18.5 inch Sculpture
$5,827
Rodrigo Romero Perez
Pan Troglodytes 2, 2020 55.1 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch Sculpture
$1,145
Sun Hyuk Kim
Naked Portrait 4, 2014 37 x 94.5 x 59.1 inch Sculpture
$26,013
C215
Kid, 2019 26.4 x 10.6 x 3.9 inch Sculpture
$3,642
Rimantas Milkintas
Over The Limit, 2020 1.6 x 1.6 x 59.1 inch Sculpture
$1,561
Hervé Nys
Echappées T4, 2022 19.7 x 15 x 4.3 inch Sculpture
$832
Nathalie Dumontier
Petite Poésie, 2020 9.8 x 5.9 x 1.2 inch Sculpture
$884
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