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
Emre
Good Boy Jeff - Green patina (1)
Emre
Sculpture - 60 x 30 x 30 cm Sculpture - 23.6 x 11.8 x 11.8 inch
£16,109
PickWick
Zebras under the African sky
PickWick
Painting - 120 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 47.2 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
£716
Aya Toshikawa
Yumi2 : Chiseled Allure and Graceful Pose
Aya Toshikawa
Sculpture - 130 x 55 x 55 cm Sculpture - 51.2 x 21.7 x 21.7 inch
£45,644
ASUKA1 : ETHEREAL ALLURE ON A WHISPERING GREEN CANVAS
Aya Toshikawa
Painting - 130 x 97 x 5 cm Painting - 51.2 x 38.2 x 2 inch
£4,475
MIZUIRO7 : BLU KAWAII REVERIE WITH LOVE, PEACE AND WHIMSICAL SKULLS
Aya Toshikawa
Painting - 112 x 120 x 5 cm Painting - 44.1 x 47.2 x 2 inch
£4,743
MIYU4 : KAWAII PINK WHIMSY AND REVERIE
Aya Toshikawa
Painting - 116 x 110 x 5 cm Painting - 45.7 x 43.3 x 2 inch
£4,564
KANAKO1 : CRIMSON TEMPTATION IN KAWAII ELEGANCE
Aya Toshikawa
Painting - 130 x 106 x 5 cm Painting - 51.2 x 41.7 x 2 inch
£4,922
SENSUAL DOLLS IN CUBIC HARMONY : AZURE TEMPTATIONS
Aya Toshikawa
Painting - 50 x 50 x 50 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 19.7 inch
£4,475
ARIKA5 : VERDANT TEMPTATION IN KAWAII WHISPERS
Aya Toshikawa
Painting - 50 x 50 x 5 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 2 inch
£1,521
ARUHI3 : VERDANT CLOUDS, KAWAII WHISPERS
Aya Toshikawa
Painting - 100 x 105 x 5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 41.3 x 2 inch
£3,759
Anna Kruhelska
Constant Change 25
Anna Kruhelska
Sculpture - 110 x 110 x 23 cm Sculpture - 43.3 x 43.3 x 9.1 inch
£8,628
Nornslife Art
Winter from Winter to Summer Series
Nornslife Art
Painting - 183 x 244 x 7.62 cm Painting - 72 x 96.1 x 3 inch
£14,901
Transverse Motion 1 of 3
Nornslife Art
Sculpture - 24.13 x 15.24 x 7.62 cm Sculpture - 9.5 x 6 x 3 inch
£10,605
Summer from Winter to Summer Series
Nornslife Art
Painting - 183 x 244 x 7.62 cm Painting - 72 x 96.1 x 3 inch
£14,901
Transverse Motion 2 of 3
Nornslife Art
Sculpture - 22.86 x 21.59 x 7.62 cm Sculpture - 9 x 8.5 x 3 inch
£10,605
Transverse Motion 3 of 3
Nornslife Art
Sculpture - 22.86 x 15.24 x 5.08 cm Sculpture - 9 x 6 x 2 inch
£10,605
Spring from Winter to Summer Series
Nornslife Art
Painting - 183 x 244 x 7.62 cm Painting - 72 x 96.1 x 3 inch
£14,901
Pys
Cha
Moustache Bleue
Les épices quel délice !
Moustache Bleue
Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.2 inch
£107
Les épices quel délice !
Moustache Bleue
Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.2 inch
£107
Ma cuisine, elle est divine
Moustache Bleue
Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.2 inch
£107
We love kisses
Moustache Bleue
Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.2 inch
£107
Claude Viseux
Efi Mashiah
Small Black Aston Martin Bullet
Efi Mashiah
Sculpture - 36.8 x 7.6 x 7.6 cm Sculpture - 14.5 x 3 x 3 inch
£373
Penny Face 'James Dean'
Efi Mashiah
Painting - 190.5 x 160 x 12.7 cm Painting - 75 x 63 x 5 inch
Sold
Arson
Bonbon Rose Candy Papillotte argent
Arson
Sculpture - 60 x 17 x 14 cm Sculpture - 23.6 x 6.7 x 5.5 inch
£2,148
Bonbon Orange Candy Papillote argent
Arson
Sculpture - 60 x 17 x 14 cm Sculpture - 23.6 x 6.7 x 5.5 inch
£2,148
Le Bonbon d'Arson 'Rouge'
Arson
Sculpture - 60 x 17 x 14 cm Sculpture - 23.6 x 6.7 x 5.5 inch
£1,700
Marie Serruya
The golden apple
Marie Serruya
Sculpture - 15 x 12 x 10 cm Sculpture - 5.9 x 4.7 x 3.9 inch
£877 £789
Suzy Solidor & Tamara de Lempicka
Marie Serruya
Sculpture - 40 x 30 x 24 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 11.8 x 9.4 inch
£2,864
The cherry on Ingot's top
Marie Serruya
Sculpture - 11 x 8 x 15 cm Sculpture - 4.3 x 3.1 x 5.9 inch
£761 £647
Les flèches de propulseur
Marie Serruya
Photography - 116 x 200 x 2 cm Photography - 45.7 x 78.7 x 0.8 inch
£6,712 £5,705