David Max Alvarez
Late 20th Century Folk Art Figurative Sculptures
Acrylic, Wood
People Also Browsed
1960s Photorealist Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
Graphite, Archival Paper
Late 19th Century American Impressionist Landscape Drawings and Watercolors
Pencil, Paper
20th Century Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Metal
Late 20th Century Primitive Statues
Wood
20th Century Pop Art Prints and Multiples
Paper, Offset
Early 20th Century African Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
17th Century Renaissance Figurative Sculptures
Wood
Antique Early 1900s Figurative Sculptures
Wood
Early 20th Century European Arts and Crafts Religious Items
Bronze
1980s Pop Art Figurative Prints
Offset, Lithograph
20th Century American Animal Sculptures
Marble, Bronze
2010s Modern Abstract Sculptures
Wood
Late 19th Century Academic Prints and Multiples
Lithograph
17th Century Baroque Figurative Sculptures
Wood
1940s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings
Oil
Vintage 1950s British Rustic Patio and Garden Furniture
Wrought Iron
Finding the Right figurative-sculptures for You
Figurative sculptures mix reality and imagination, with the most common muse being the human body. Animals are also inspirations for these sculptures, along with forms found in nature.
While figurative sculpture dates back over 35,000 years, the term came into popularity in the 20th century to distinguish it from abstract art. It was aligned with the Expressionist movement in that many of its artists portrayed reality but in a nonnaturalistic and emotional way. In the 1940s, Alberto Giacometti — a Swiss-born artist who was interested in African art, Cubism and Surrealism — created now-iconic representational sculptures of the human figure, and after World War II, figurative sculpture as a movement continued to flourish in Europe.
Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon were some of the leading figurative artists during this period. Artists like Jeff Koons and Maurizio Cattelan propelled the evolution of figurative sculpture into the 21st century.
Figurative sculptures can be whimsical, uncanny and beautiful. Their materials range from stone and wood to metal and delicate ceramics. Even in smaller sizes, the sculptures make bold statements. A bronze sculpture by Salvador Dalí enhances a room; a statuesque bull by Jacques Owczarek depicts strength with its broad chest while its thin legs speak of fragility. Figurative sculptures allow viewers to see what is possible when life is reimagined.
Browse 1stDibs for an extensive collection of figurative sculptures and find the next addition to your collection.