Whether chiseling marble orcasting in bronze, there is no denying the power of sculpture.
Throughout history, there have been famous sculptors who have withstood the test of time.
Without each artist’s contributions, it would be difficult to imagine visual culture as we now know it.
Learn more about 16 of the most famous sculptors in Western art.
Praxiteles
Aphrodite of KnidosMarble, Roman copy after a Greek original of the 4th century by Praxiteles.
Primarily working in Florence, much of his work can still be found in the city today.
“Aphrodite of Knidos”Marble, Roman copy after a Greek original of the 4th century by Praxiteles. (Photo:Museo Nazionale Romano di Palazzo Altempsvia Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
The astonishing realism of his woodPenitent Magdaleneshows just how far ahead of his time Donatello was.
Michelangelo
David by Michelangelo.
His iconicDavidstatueremains an enduring symbol of the Italian Renaissance and continues to inspire generations of artists.
“Penitent Magdalene” by Donatello (Photo:Divotvia Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
Gianlorenzo Bernini
Pluto and Persephone' by Bernini.
As a child prodigy, Bernini was creating large-scale marble sculptures as a teen.
One of his most famous sculptures,Pluto and Persephoneis a wonderful example of his creative abilities.
“David” by Michelangelo. (Photo:Stock Photosfrom Marta Pons Moreta/Shutterstock)
True to the movement’s form, he looked to classical antiquity for inspiration.
Auguste Rodin
A cast of The Thinker by Rodin.
Classically trained, he came to international attention after his works were displayed at theWorld’s Fair.
‘Pluto and Persephone' by Bernini. (Photo:Stock Photosfrom wjarek/Shutterstock)
Constantin Brancusi
Endless Column by Brancusi.
His sculptures are known for their clean, geometric lines, as evidenced by his acclaimedBird in Spaceseries.
Calling them Readymades, Duchamp used these pieces to challenge the world’s ideas about what qualifies as art.
“Psyche Revived by the Kiss of Love” by Antonio Canova (Photo:Jean-Pol Grandmontvia Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
These large abstract sculptures in steel were often commissioned by top architects, includingI.M.
Alberto Giacometti
Swiss sculptorAlberto Giacomettiis perhaps most recognized for his thin, elongated figures.
His most famous sculptures are his series,Walking Man.
A cast of “The Thinker” by Rodin. (Photo:Stock Photosfrom Sean Neal/Shutterstock)
Three of these four life-size sculptures are cast in bronze.
Giacometti’s work is often considered when discussing existentialism and the human condition.
Many scholars have suggested that his elongated figures relate to a lack of meaning in 20th-century life.
“Endless Column” by Brancusi. (Photo:Stock Photosfrom Radu Bercan/Shutterstock)
Henry Moore
Reclining Figure by Henry Moore.
His work most often features reclining figures with a recurring theme of Mother and Child.
Fans of his work will want to visit his 60-acre estate in Perry Green, Hertfordshire.
“Fountain” by Marcel Duchamp (Photo:Alfred Stieglitzvia Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
Now owned by the Henry Moore Foundation, it’s home to the largest collection of his work.
Sol LeWitt
Tower by Sol Lewitt.
The American artist preferred the term structures over sculptures.
“Cheval Rouge (Red Horse)” by Alexander Calder (Photo: LeeSnider/Depositphotos)
Later in life, he began to incorporate curvilinear forms and saturated colorsa complete departure from his previous production.
A multi-faceted artist, LeWitt is also recognized for his wall drawings, gouaches, and architectural projects.
Louise Bourgeois
Maman' by Louise Bourgeois.
By this time, she was already in her 70s and had enjoyed a prolific career.
Drawing from her own life experience, her sculptures often explore themes of family, sexuality, and death.
Perhaps his most famous artwork isCloud Gate, also affectionately known asThe Bean.
“Reclining Figure” by Henry Moore. (Photo:Stock Photosfrom Ron Ellis/Shutterstock)
He then transitioned into working with carved stone, creating sculptures with cavities that played on themes of duality.
Some critics view his work as kitsch and crass, while others find them revolutionary.
The original Inflatable,Rabbit, was cast from a readymade inflatable rabbit in polished stainless steel.
‘Tower” by Sol Lewitt. (Photo:Piersbertrandvia Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
These renowned pumpkins are spotted with contrasting black polka dots, reflecting Kusama’s signature style.
‘Maman' by Louise Bourgeois. (Photo:Stock Photosfrom tichr/Shutterstock)
“Cloud Gate” by Anish Kapoor (Photo: Ffooter/Depositphotos)
“Balloon Dog” by Jeff Koons (Photo: Reflexview/Depositphotos)
“The Spirits of the Pumpkins Descended into the Heavens” by Yayoi Kusama (Photo:Ncyseavia Wikimedia Commons,CC BY-SA 4.0)
