Alexis Rudier
Early 20th Century Academic Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
1910s Art Deco Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Early 20th Century Romantic Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Early 20th Century American Modern Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
1930s French School Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Early 20th Century French School Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
People Also Browsed
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Garden Ornaments
Bronze
20th Century Unknown Neoclassical Revival Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Early 2000s Academic Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Late 20th Century Animal Sculptures
20th Century American Adirondack Pillows and Throws
Wool
Antique Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche
Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Porcelain
Porcelain
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Porcelain
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Patio and Garden Furniture
Carrara Marble, Aluminum
Antique 18th Century Indian Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Wood
Antique 19th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Figurative Sculptures
Brass
20th Century Austrian Belle Époque Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Antique 19th Century Russian High Victorian Animal Sculptures
Bronze, Iron, Ormolu
Antique Late 18th Century Spanish Colonial Religious Items
Wood, Paint
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Indian Folk Art Metalwork
Bronze
Recent Sales
1910s Academic Nude Sculptures
Marble
Late 19th Century French School Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
1950s Modern Nude Sculptures
Ceramic
1880s French School Figurative Prints
Etching
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.
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This Weathered-Steel Sculpture Distills a Form of Protest into a Minimalist Monument
Part of Alejandro Vega Beuvrin’s “Barricada” series, the work is a subversive tribute to the street smarts of citizen activists.
How the Chunky, Funky Ceramics of 5 Mid-Century American Artists Balanced Out Slick Modernism
Get to know the innovators behind the pottery countercultural revolution.
Art Brings the Drama in These Intriguing 1stDibs 50 Spaces
The world’s top designers explain how they display art to elicit the natural (and supernatural) energy of home interiors.
Chryssa’s 1962 Neon Sculpture Was Way ahead of the Art-World Curve
By working with lettering, neon and Pop imagery, Chryssa pioneered several postmodern themes at a time when most male artists detested commercial mediums.
How to Spot a Fake KAWS Figure
KAWS art toys have developed an avid audience in recent decades, and as in any robust collectible market, counterfeiters have followed the mania. Of course, you don’t have to worry about that on 1stDibs, where all our sellers are highly vetted.
A Giant Wedding Cake Has Us Looking at Portuguese Tiles in a New Light
At Waddesdon Manor, artist Joana Vasconcelos has installed a three-tiered patisserie inspired by the narrative tile work of her homeland. We take a look at the cake sculpture and how Portuguese tiles have been used in architecture from the 17th century to today.
These Soft Sculptures Are Childhood Imaginary Friends Come to Life
Miami artist and designer Gabriela Noelle’s fantastical creations appeal to the Peter Pan in all of us.
Hideho Tanaka Carefully Stitched Together Pieces of Paper to Make This Sculptural Textile
The Japanese fiber artist’s ‘Vanishing and Emerging Wall’ may seem innocuous — but it plays with conceptions of time.