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Realist Figurative Sculptures

REALIST STYLE

Realist art attempts to portray its subject matter without artifice. Similar to naturalism, authentic realist paintings and prints see an integration of true-to-life colors, meticulous detail and linear perspectives for accurate portrayals of the world. 

Work that involves illusionistic techniques of realism dates back to the classical world, such as the deceptive trompe l’oeil used since ancient Greece. Art like this became especially popular in the 17th century when Dutch artists like Evert Collier painted objects that appeared real enough to touch. Realism as an artistic movement, however, usually refers to 19th-century French realist artists such as Honoré Daumier exploring social and political issues in biting lithographic prints, while the likes of Gustave Courbet and Jean-François Millet painting people — particularly the working class — with all their imperfections, navigating everyday urban life. This was a response to the dominant academic art tradition that favored grand paintings of myth and history. 

By the turn of the 20th century, European artists, such as the Pre-Raphaelites, were experimenting with nearly photographic realism in their work, as seen in the attention to every botanical attribute of the flowers surrounding the drowned Ophelia painted by English artist John Everett Millais.

Although abstraction was the guiding style of 20th-century art, the realism trend in American modern art endured in Edward Hopper, Andrew Wyeth and other artists’ depictions of the complexities of the human experience. In the late 1960s, Photorealism emerged with artists like Chuck Close and Richard Estes giving their paintings the precision of a frame of film.

Contemporary artists such as Jordan Casteel, LaToya Ruby Frazier and Aliza Nisenbaum are now using the unvarnished realist approach for honest representations of people and their worlds. Alongside traditional mediums, technology such as virtual reality, artificial intelligence and immersive installations are helping artists create new sensations of realism in art.

​​Find authentic realist paintings, sculptures, prints and more art on 1stDibs.

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Style: Realist
Icarus. Llimited edition: 1/5. Sculpture by Sergey Oganov. Bronze
Icarus. Llimited edition: 1/5. Sculpture by Sergey Oganov. Bronze

Icarus. Llimited edition: 1/5. Sculpture by Sergey Oganov. Bronze

Located in Riga, LV

Undoubtedly, Icarus has become a symbol of the longing for freedom, the desire to feel one’s wings – but also of danger and risk. This work is dedicated to teenagers, no longer child...

Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Warrior-defender. Llimited edition: 3/4. Sculpture by Sergey Oganov. Bronze
Warrior-defender. Llimited edition: 3/4. Sculpture by Sergey Oganov. Bronze

Warrior-defender. Llimited edition: 3/4. Sculpture by Sergey Oganov. Bronze

Located in Riga, LV

“Warrior‑Guardian” is an image of mature strength gathered inward. He stands on the threshold, as at the entrance to a home or a temple, where space divides into “inside” and “outsid...

Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Metal, Bronze

Gedimin. Llimited edition: 1/2. Sculpture by Sergey Oganov. Bronze
Gedimin. Llimited edition: 1/2. Sculpture by Sergey Oganov. Bronze

Gedimin. Llimited edition: 1/2. Sculpture by Sergey Oganov. Bronze

Located in Riga, LV

The work was created in 2019 as one of the competition entries for the city of Lida – a representation of the founding prince of Lida Castle. This equestrian composition is executed ...

Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Last Supper. Llimited edition: 5/5. Sculpture by Sergey Oganov. Bronze
Last Supper. Llimited edition: 5/5. Sculpture by Sergey Oganov. Bronze

Last Supper. Llimited edition: 5/5. Sculpture by Sergey Oganov. Bronze

Located in Riga, LV

"Last Supper" is a visual manifesto of solitude, choice, and the premonition of sacrifice. Time has frozen in the moment after betrayal – when inevitability has settled in, and the c...

Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Metal, Bronze

Crusader. Llimited edition: 2/5. Sculpture by Sergey Oganov. Bronze
Crusader. Llimited edition: 2/5. Sculpture by Sergey Oganov. Bronze

Crusader. Llimited edition: 2/5. Sculpture by Sergey Oganov. Bronze

Located in Riga, LV

"I wanted to explore the paradox of a warrior – a figure driven by lofty ideals, yet capable of dark, blood-soaked deeds. The result is this frozen idol: a hollow shell clad in armor...

Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze, Metal

Nomad. Llimited edition: ЕА 1-1. Sculpture by Sergey Oganov. Bronze
Nomad. Llimited edition: ЕА 1-1. Sculpture by Sergey Oganov. Bronze

Nomad. Llimited edition: ЕА 1-1. Sculpture by Sergey Oganov. Bronze

Located in Riga, LV

The early 13th century saw the Mongol Empire's massive conquests, leading to sweeping changes that affected Eastern Europe as well. But the main force in this expansion was the nomad...

Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Metal, Bronze

Venus Bronze Sculpture, Realist Style, Vintage, 1980s
Venus Bronze Sculpture, Realist Style, Vintage, 1980s

Venus Bronze Sculpture, Realist Style, Vintage, 1980s

By Alex Radionov

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this work, the author turned to classical mythology and created the image of the goddess Venus. Goddesses of youth, beauty and love. He created the classical female torso on a marble basement. Кeferring to the classical works of antiquity, the sculptor created his own version of the Venus statue...

Category

1980s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Argonauts. Llimited edition: EA-II. Bronze. 59x38x10 cm
Argonauts. Llimited edition: EA-II. Bronze. 59x38x10 cm

Argonauts. Llimited edition: EA-II. Bronze. 59x38x10 cm

Located in Riga, LV

A little boy and his friend were woven into the classic, well-known myth of the Argonauts. Together with the heroes, they conquered the sea – which took the form of a mighty bull – a...

Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Metal, Bronze

Rare, Antique, Life-Size Dog Bronze of a Chihuahua "Lydie" Charles Valton. 1890s
Rare, Antique, Life-Size Dog Bronze of a Chihuahua "Lydie" Charles Valton. 1890s

Rare, Antique, Life-Size Dog Bronze of a Chihuahua "Lydie" Charles Valton. 1890s

By Charles Valton

Located in SANTA FE, NM

Antique Bronze Dog Sculpture Chihuahua "La Petite Belle Lydie" Charles Valton (French, 1851-1918) Circa 15 1/2 x 10 1/4 x 7 Lydie is a Chihuahua making her a very rare image from ...

Category

Late 19th Century Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

"Eagle with a Snake"
"Eagle with a Snake"

"Eagle with a Snake"

By Katib Mamedov

Located in Edinburgh, GB

This sculptural work depicts a dramatic scene of a struggle between a mighty eagle and a snake. The eagle, a symbol of strength, courage and victory, has spread its wings wide, demon...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Night Watch. Llimited edition: 3/5. Sculpture by Sergey Oganov. Bronze
Night Watch. Llimited edition: 3/5. Sculpture by Sergey Oganov. Bronze

Night Watch. Llimited edition: 3/5. Sculpture by Sergey Oganov. Bronze

Located in Riga, LV

This sculpture is rooted in the imagery of a child's toy – a doubled silhouette of two riders, mirroring each other yet facing opposite directions, east and west. They are not locked...

Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Contemporary Bronze Male Torso Sculpture
Contemporary Bronze Male Torso Sculpture

Contemporary Bronze Male Torso Sculpture

By Roger Reutimann

Located in Boulder, CO

This contemporary bronze sculpture by Swiss-American artist Roger Reutimann combines the refinement of classical figurative sculpture with a clean modern aesthetic. Featuring a power...

Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Rare Milk Glass Carved Sculpture Panel Cowboy Indian WPA Artist Americana
Rare Milk Glass Carved Sculpture Panel Cowboy Indian WPA Artist Americana

Rare Milk Glass Carved Sculpture Panel Cowboy Indian WPA Artist Americana

By Abraham Harriton

Located in Surfside, FL

This is a carved glass panel. I belive this is milk glass. it is a classic Americana scene of a cowboy or frontier trapper and an Indian or Native American with a feathered headdress...

Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Glass

Antique Horse Bronze Trotting Stallion Isidore Jules Bonheur (France, 1827-1901)
Antique Horse Bronze Trotting Stallion Isidore Jules Bonheur (France, 1827-1901)

Antique Horse Bronze Trotting Stallion Isidore Jules Bonheur (France, 1827-1901)

By Isidore Jules Bonheur

Located in SANTA FE, NM

Antique Horse Bronze Portrait of a Trotting Stallion Isidore Jules Bonheur (France, 1827-1901) Cast bronze mounted on a rectangular plinth with dark brown patina, Signed: I. BONHEUR 17 x 11 3/4 A brilliant exploration of a stallion in full trot. The patina is a deep, warm walnut brown with honey-colored tones. Isidore Bonheur was best known and the most distinguished of the 19th century French animalier sculptors. Isidore, the younger brother of Rosa Bonheur and older brother of Auguste, began his studies of painting initially with his father, who was friends with Francisco Goya. By 1848 he debuted at the Paris Salon having discontinued animal and landscape painting to concentrate on creating sculptures and in 1849, Bonheur enrolled at the Ecole des Beaux Arts. He won medals at the Paris Salon in 1859 and did so again in 1865 and in 1869. After entering the Exposition Universelle 1855, he won the Gold Medal in 1889. In the 1870s exhibited in the London at the Royal Academy of Arts where he earned great prestige and won the coveted Medaille d’Or. After winning numerous other medals and prizes, Bonheur was awarded the Legion d' Honneur in 1895 and he was Knighted in Portugal, Spain and France. Bonheur continued exhibiting at the Paris Salon until 1899. Many of his bronzes were fabricated at the foundry owned by Hippolyte Peyrol, Bonheur's brother-in-law by marriage to Isidore’s youngest sister Juliette Bonheur. The Peyrol casts for both Rosa and Isidore are exceptionally well executed which suggests a strong working relationship between the founder and sculptor. There is little doubt that Isidore Bonheur was an acute observer of nature; his animals were not anthropomorphized but modelled to catch movement or posture characteristics of the particular species he was sculpting. He achieved this most successfully with his sculptures of horses which are usually depicted as relaxed rather than spirited. These figures are among his most renowned works and his equestrian models became very popular, particularly among the British aristocracy. An acute observer of nature, his sculptures reflect his commitment to the Realist school - with precise detailing of the movements of animals in their natural habitats. Ultimately, His naturalistic studies of animals are now some of the most highly sought after works by any of the animalier. He was possibly inspired by his many visits to the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show...

Category

1870s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Aida
Aida

Aida

By Gaston Leroux

Located in New York, NY

GASTON LEROUX "Aida" Modeled scantily clad in a robe and head garment seated on a sculpted head of an Egyptian Pharoah, with a tambourine in her hand, with a green and brown patina, ...

Category

19th Century Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

[Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Statue of an Athlete
[Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Statue of an Athlete

[Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Statue of an Athlete

By Mark Beard

Located in New York, NY

This artwork is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City. “Bruce Sargeant is a mythic figure in the modern art movement. He embodies a world that is in many ways lost to us; he...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Glove. Llimited edition: 3/8. Sculpture by Sergey Oganov. Bronze
Glove. Llimited edition: 3/8. Sculpture by Sergey Oganov. Bronze

Glove. Llimited edition: 3/8. Sculpture by Sergey Oganov. Bronze

Located in Riga, LV

"A knight’s iron glove lies discarded after battle – its fingers curled around a tiny icon of the Virgin Mary. This quiet collision of symbols: the divine feminine (life, hope, mothe...

Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze, Metal

Catrina en Día de Muertos - Ceramic Sculpture - Mexican Folk Art - Cactus Fine A
Catrina en Día de Muertos - Ceramic Sculpture - Mexican Folk Art - Cactus Fine A

Catrina en Día de Muertos - Ceramic Sculpture - Mexican Folk Art - Cactus Fine A

By Alvaro de la Cruz Lopez

Located in Jesus del Monte, MX

MASTERPIECE Made with natural ceramic. Hand-modeled technique and cooked in a wood-fired oven. LISTING =================================== 1 Ceramic Catrina =======================...

Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Clay

St Paul's Cathedral

St Paul's Cathedral

Located in Santa Monica, CA

A new work by the artist

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Mixed Media, Archival Paper

Cheval Libre (Free Horse)
Cheval Libre (Free Horse)

Cheval Libre (Free Horse)

By Pierre Jules Mêne

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist: After Pierre Jules Mene (French, 1810-1879) Title: Cheval Libre (Free Horse) Year: 1868 Medium: Cast bronze sculpture with dark brown patina Edition: Unknown Size: Inclu...

Category

Mid-19th Century Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Hutschenreuther Porcelain Figurine "The Challenge" (Blue Heron)
Hutschenreuther Porcelain Figurine "The Challenge" (Blue Heron)

Hutschenreuther Porcelain Figurine "The Challenge" (Blue Heron)

Located in Detroit, MI

The Challenge (Blue Heron) by Gunther Granget Ltd Edition #42/200 for Hutschenreuther Porcelain in Germany. Hand painted in fired. Hutschenreuther is a historic German porcelain man...

Category

1970s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century Grand Tour Marble Bust of a Young Apollo
19th Century Grand Tour Marble Bust of a Young Apollo

19th Century Grand Tour Marble Bust of a Young Apollo

Located in Saratoga Springs, NY

Grand Tour Marble Bust of a Young Apollo (Late 19th Century) Marble bust on a swivel marble base Unsigned 24 ½" high x 21" wide x 9 1/2 " deep...

Category

Late 19th Century Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Marble

Bronco Buster - Reproduction

Bronco Buster - Reproduction

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

Reproduction Bronze Sculpture inscribed with the Artist's signature.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Vintage Italian Glazed Terra Cotta Wall Hanging Leopard Head
Vintage Italian Glazed Terra Cotta Wall Hanging Leopard Head

Vintage Italian Glazed Terra Cotta Wall Hanging Leopard Head

Located in Palm Beach, FL

Striking mid century Italian life size leopard head crafted in terra cotta, hand decorated and glazed, now and forever caught in mid growl.

Category

20th Century Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

"Ex Nihilo Fragment 3", Frederick Hart, Figurative Bronze Sculpture, 43x31x18 in
"Ex Nihilo Fragment 3", Frederick Hart, Figurative Bronze Sculpture, 43x31x18 in

"Ex Nihilo Fragment 3", Frederick Hart, Figurative Bronze Sculpture, 43x31x18 in

By Frederick Hart

Located in Dallas, TX

"Ex Nihilo Fragment 3" by Frederick Hart is a figurative bronze with the edition of 56/65. I saw Ex Nihilo (Out of Nothingness) as a single expression of creation, as the metamorph...

Category

Early 2000s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Pregnant woman. vintage bronse sculpture
Pregnant woman. vintage bronse sculpture

Pregnant woman. vintage bronse sculpture

By Alex Radionov

Located in Zofingen, AG

In this work, the author create a pregnant woman. He created the classical female torso on a marble basement. Posture, movement, body lines - everything praises the beauty of the f...

Category

1980s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Stone, Bronze

Seahorse -original figurative bronze marine sculpture-artwork-contemporary Art
Seahorse -original figurative bronze marine sculpture-artwork-contemporary Art

Seahorse -original figurative bronze marine sculpture-artwork-contemporary Art

By Andrzej Szymczyk

Located in London, Chelsea

We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Italian Academic Sculptor - Early 20th Century Erotic Marble Tondo Relief
Italian Academic Sculptor - Early 20th Century Erotic Marble Tondo Relief

Italian Academic Sculptor - Early 20th Century Erotic Marble Tondo Relief

Located in Varmo, IT

Italian sculptor (20th century) - Erotic scene. Diameter 26 cm. Circular low-relief in carved white marble. The marble tondo depicts a pair of nude figures in an amorous pose, ren...

Category

Early 20th Century Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Marble

"Porcelain Pattern Sphynx 2" - Hand-Painted Resin Cat Sculpture, 2024
"Porcelain Pattern Sphynx 2" - Hand-Painted Resin Cat Sculpture, 2024

"Porcelain Pattern Sphynx 2" - Hand-Painted Resin Cat Sculpture, 2024

By Nana Williams

Located in Denver, CO

Nana Williams’ "Porcelain Pattern Sphynx 2" is a captivating resin sculpture that merges delicate craftsmanship with intricate surface decoration. This 2024 original work is a resin cast, hand-painted with acrylic gouache, standing at 5.50 x 2 x 3.50 inches (13.97 x 5.08 x 8.89 cm). Inspired by the elegance of fine porcelain, the piece mimics the timeless beauty of blue-and-white ceramic motifs...

Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Resin, Acrylic, Gouache

Deer, Large Patinated Bronze Sculpture
Deer, Large Patinated Bronze Sculpture

Deer, Large Patinated Bronze Sculpture

Located in Long Island City, NY

This bronze sculpture of a deer is a realistic rendering of the majestic animal. Deer have been the center of literature and art for many cultures across the world. They have also ...

Category

20th Century Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Self-Made Man
Self-Made Man

Self-Made Man

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

Original Sculpture inscribed with the Artist's signature. Open Edition

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Christ with Crown of Thorns / - Seeing gaze -
Christ with Crown of Thorns / - Seeing gaze -

Christ with Crown of Thorns / - Seeing gaze -

Located in Berlin, DE

Hans Thoma (1839 Bernau - 1924 Karlsruhe), Christ with Crown of Thorns, 1902. Brass relief plate in niello technique with raised sections, 38 cm x 40 cm. Monogrammed and dated “hTh 1...

Category

Early 1900s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Watching Owl on Rock / - The Library Guardian -
Watching Owl on Rock / - The Library Guardian -

Watching Owl on Rock / - The Library Guardian -

Located in Berlin, DE

Anonymous, Watching Owl on Rock, around 1960. Bronze, solid cast figure, 6.5 inches (height) x 4.7 inches (width) x 3.9 inches (depth), 2.44 kg. - Excellent condition - The Libr...

Category

1960s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Scherzo / - The nature of the scherzo -
Scherzo / - The nature of the scherzo -

Scherzo / - The nature of the scherzo -

Located in Berlin, DE

Emile Jespers (1862 Deurne - 1918 Antwerp), Scherzo, circa 1890. Marble bust on marble base with title plaque, 42.5 cm (total height) x 28 cm (width) x 18 cm (depth), signed “E.[mile...

Category

1890s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Marble

"The Seeker, " Sculpture
"The Seeker, " Sculpture

"The Seeker, " Sculpture

By Bill Starke

Located in Denver, CO

Bill Starke's "The Seeker" is a limited edition (#3/50), bronze sculpture created by Bill Starke depicting a male figure peering down through a small opening beneath him. About th...

Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze, Metal

"In My Dreams I Can Fly, " Sculpture
"In My Dreams I Can Fly, " Sculpture

"In My Dreams I Can Fly, " Sculpture

By Bill Starke

Located in Denver, CO

Bill Starke's "In My Dreams I Can Fly" is a limited edition, cast and patinated aluminum sculpture created by Bill Starke depicting a male figure free falling through the air. ( 3/99 ) Note: Images 4 and 5 depict additional available patinas. About the artist: Human beings interacting, colliding, cooperating, striving, & achieving are the themes I wish to portray in my sculptures. My observations on the human condition are meant to be both humorous and thought provoking. Bill Starke's "Free Man" is everything that good art should be: technically superb, brilliantly composed, emotionally powerful and visually arresting... like George Stubbs, the 18th century English...

Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Other Medium

Gerhart Hauptmann, c. 1912 / - - Pensive stride -
Gerhart Hauptmann, c. 1912 / - - Pensive stride -

Gerhart Hauptmann, c. 1912 / - - Pensive stride -

Located in Berlin, DE

Curt Gitschmann (1876 Breslau - 1933 Berlin), Gerhart Hauptmann, around 1912. Brown patinated bronze mounted on marble plinth, 43 cm (total height), 20 cm (width) x 20 cm (depth) cm,...

Category

1910s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Expressive High Fire Glazed Ceramic Painted Old Man Bust and Forged Iron Glasses
Expressive High Fire Glazed Ceramic Painted Old Man Bust and Forged Iron Glasses

Expressive High Fire Glazed Ceramic Painted Old Man Bust and Forged Iron Glasses

By Óscar Aldonza Torres

Located in FISTERRA, ES

Expressive ceramic bust with high-fire glazes, oil-painted head and forged iron glasses exploring identity, learning and the aging body. This expressive ceramic bust belongs to Os A...

Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Iron

Realist figurative sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Realist figurative sculptures available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. If you’re looking to add figurative sculptures created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, orange, pink and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Frederick Hart, Gary Alsum, SOPHIE MARTIN, and W Stanley Proctor. Frequently made by artists working with Metal, and Bronze and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Realist figurative sculptures, so small editions measuring 1 inches across are also available. Prices for figurative sculptures made by famous or emerging artists can differ depending on medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $550 and tops out at $935,000, while the average work sells for $7,833.