Ballpark Frank

Sculptor Robin Antar has been dubbed Brooklyn’s answer to artist Andy Warhol for how she observes and documents the American experience. She was born blind in one eye in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1957. She began sculpting as a means to cope when her family relocated to Brooklyn, New York. Antar feels her vision impairment is a blessing, giving her a different perspective on shape and composition. 

Antar’s earlier abstract work explored profound topics of the human experience, like conversation, meditation and relationships. She lost her son to drug addiction when he was 26 and used her art to channel trauma into healing. Her stone knot sculpture David’s Knot in Flames is a tribute to her son and a reminder to others that there is hope in life beyond the struggles.

Antar’s realist pieces are inspired by her desire to answer the question, “What is America?” Following 9/11, Antar wanted to express her feelings about what being an American means. Through vibrant Pop art sculptures, she has recreated iconic brand products and symbols of the American lifestyle. Antar has said, “I achieved my goal when the U.S. government wrote to tell me I cannot copyright a work of art because it too closely resembled the product that I chose to record in stone. The day I received that letter was one of the happiest days of my life.”

Antar’s work has been shown in hundreds of exhibitions, publications and media presentations, including on the Food Network, in the Huffington Post and on HGTV. She was the first female artist invited to exhibit at the Pop International Galleries in New York, which features works by Rolling Stones musician Ronnie Wood and Warhol, among others.

On 1stDibs, find a selection of Robin Antar’s still life sculptures, abstract sculptures and decorative objects.

The history of sculpture as we know it is believed to have origins in Ancient Greece, while small sculptural carvings are among the most common examples of prehistoric art. In short, sculpture as a fine art has been with us forever. A powerful three-dimensional means of creative expression, sculpture has long been most frequently associated with religion — consider the limestone Great Sphinx in Giza, Egypt — while the tradition of collecting sculpture, which has also been traced back to Greece as well as to China, far precedes the emergence of museums.

Technique and materials in sculpture have changed over time. Stone sculpture, which essentially began as images carved into cave walls, is as old as human civilization itself. The majority of surviving sculpted works from ancient cultures are stone. Traditionally, this material and pottery as well as metal — bronze in particular — were among the most common materials associated with this field of visual art. Artists have long sought new ways and materials in order to make sculptures and express their ideas. Material, after all, is the vehicle through which artists express themselves, or at least work out the problems knocking around in their heads. It also allows them to push the boundaries of form, subverting our expectations and upending convention. As an influential sculptor as much as he was a revolutionary painter and printmaker, Pablo Picasso worked with everything from wire to wood to bicycle seats.

If you are a lover of art and antiques or are thinking of bringing a work of sculpture into your home for the first time, there are several details to keep in mind. As with all other works of art, think about what you like. What speaks to you? Visit local galleries and museums. Take in works of public art and art fairs when you can and find out what kind of sculpture you like. When you’ve come to a decision about a specific work, try to find out all you can about the piece, and if you’re not buying from a sculptor directly, work with an art expert to confirm the work’s authenticity.

And when you bring your sculpture home, remember: No matter how big or small your new addition is, it will make a statement in your space. Large- and even medium-sized sculptures can be heavy, so hire some professional art handlers as necessary and find a good place in your home for your piece. Whether you’re installing a towering new figurative sculpture — a colorful character by KAWS or hyperreal work by Carole A. Feuerman, perhaps — or an abstract work by Won Lee, you’ll want the sculpture to be safe from being knocked over. (You’ll find that most sculptures should be displayed at eye level, while some large busts look best from below.)

On 1stDibs, find a broad range of exceptional sculptures for sale. Browse works by your favorite creator, style, period or other attribute.