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
Stratos
Marie-Madeleine Vitrolles
Sauter par dessus bord - 579
Marie-Madeleine Vitrolles
Sculpture - 91 x 25 x 31 cm Sculpture - 35.8 x 9.8 x 12.2 inch
$1,686
Hespéride
Marie-Madeleine Vitrolles
Sculpture - 60 x 10 x 11 cm Sculpture - 23.6 x 3.9 x 4.3 inch
$742
Je t'attends
Marie-Madeleine Vitrolles
Sculpture - 46 x 19 x 12 cm Sculpture - 18.1 x 7.5 x 4.7 inch
$730
Déséquilibre
Marie-Madeleine Vitrolles
Sculpture - 54 x 36 x 13 cm Sculpture - 21.3 x 14.2 x 5.1 inch
$6,742
Mycéenne
Marie-Madeleine Vitrolles
Sculpture - 129 x 22 x 22 cm Sculpture - 50.8 x 8.7 x 8.7 inch
$3,708
Caro Graffiti
Sculptural Lady
Caro Graffiti
Sculpture - 53.5 x 30.5 x 6 cm Sculpture - 21.1 x 12 x 2.4 inch
$1,461
David Ferreira
Code barre (Circus )
David Ferreira
Painting - 100 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch
$3,034
Code barre Circus
David Ferreira
Painting - 150 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 59.1 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$2,472
Jéko
Au bord de l'eau
Jéko
Fine Art Drawings - 29.7 x 21 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch
$674
Les yeux dans les tiens, souris #3
Jéko
Sculpture - 68.5 x 23 x 4 cm Sculpture - 27 x 9.1 x 1.6 inch
$2,922
Je fais comme si tu étais là
Jéko
Painting - 140 x 107 x 0.2 cm Painting - 55.1 x 42.1 x 0.1 inch
$3,259
Une brise sur les fleurs et les sourires
Jéko
Painting - 140 x 107 x 0.2 cm Painting - 55.1 x 42.1 x 0.1 inch
$3,259
Le regard rose
Jéko
Fine Art Drawings - 29.7 x 21 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch
$674
Le soleil brille même la nuit #2
Jéko
Fine Art Drawings - 29.7 x 21 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.1 inch
$674
Hersk
Something to suck medium sol
Hersk
Sculpture - 68 x 60 x 60 cm Sculpture - 26.8 x 23.6 x 23.6 inch
$3,034
Something to suck mini sol
Hersk
Sculpture - 38 x 30 x 30 cm Sculpture - 15 x 11.8 x 11.8 inch
$2,360
Something to suck mini sol
Hersk
Sculpture - 38 x 30 x 30 cm Sculpture - 15 x 11.8 x 11.8 inch
$2,360
Something to suck mini sol
Hersk
Sculpture - 38 x 30 x 30 cm Sculpture - 15 x 11.8 x 11.8 inch
$2,360
Something to suck mini sol
Hersk
Sculpture - 38 x 30 x 30 cm Sculpture - 15 x 11.8 x 11.8 inch
$2,360
Something to suck mini sol
Hersk
Sculpture - 38 x 30 x 30 cm Sculpture - 15 x 11.8 x 11.8 inch
$2,360
Something to suck medium sol
Hersk
Sculpture - 68 x 60 x 60 cm Sculpture - 26.8 x 23.6 x 23.6 inch
$3,034
Levalet
Deville-Chabrolle
Adieu ma concubine
Deville-Chabrolle
Sculpture - 108 x 57 x 37 cm Sculpture - 42.5 x 22.4 x 14.6 inch
$27,530
Cheveux d'ange
Deville-Chabrolle
Fine Art Drawings - 100 x 70 x 3.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 39.4 x 27.6 x 1.4 inch
$2,809
Viktor Zuk
Summer mood III-large size
Viktor Zuk
Sculpture - 52 x 22 x 13 cm Sculpture - 20.5 x 8.7 x 5.1 inch
$551
The blue bird (fairy tale)
Viktor Zuk
Sculpture - 29 x 35 x 17 cm Sculpture - 11.4 x 13.8 x 6.7 inch
$673
Dreaming rabbit-large size
Viktor Zuk
Sculpture - 35.5 x 35 x 22 cm Sculpture - 14 x 13.8 x 8.7 inch
$663
Orange Funny Dragon I
Viktor Zuk
Sculpture - 22.5 x 17 x 13 cm Sculpture - 8.9 x 6.7 x 5.1 inch
$579
Martín Duque
Tête de cheval impressionniste oxyde vert
Martín Duque
Sculpture - 53 x 21 x 30.5 cm Sculpture - 20.9 x 8.3 x 12 inch
$1,438
Degas Danseur de Ballet
Martín Duque
Sculpture - 44 x 16 x 20 cm Sculpture - 17.3 x 6.3 x 7.9 inch
$1,101
Oiseau et Étoile Feu rouge
Martín Duque
Sculpture - 44 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 17.3 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
$1,281
Expand Oiseau et Lune
Martín Duque
Sculpture - 46 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 18.1 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
$1,281
Cheval impressionniste
Martín Duque
Sculpture - 28 x 38 x 15 cm Sculpture - 11 x 15 x 5.9 inch
$1,506
Tête de cheval impressionniste
Martín Duque
Sculpture - 53 x 21 x 30.5 cm Sculpture - 20.9 x 8.3 x 12 inch
$1,438
Bernard Rives
Guy Ghazanchyan
Portrait with Birds
Guy Ghazanchyan
Painting - 65 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,124
Portrait with Bird
Guy Ghazanchyan
Painting - 45 x 45 x 2 cm Painting - 17.7 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,124