Edwards Ian

British artist Ian Edwards’s dynamic bronze sculptures, which are typically rooted in the wonders of the natural world, capture the essence of movement. Inspired by masters like Rodin and Michelangelo, Edwards combines modern and classical techniques for figurative, nude and abstract sculptures that are representative of the artist’s distinctive and recognizable style.

Edwards has been working with his hands since he was 16. A five-year apprenticeship with the cabinetmakers at G&H Studios focused on animal woodcarving. As soon as he entered the facility’s woodcarving shop, Edwards knew he was meant to be there.

The artist developed a passion for exploring form and movement in animals and humans alike throughout his training. In his early 20s, Edwards set up his own studio. He focused mainly on wildlife and figurative sculptures, creating pieces that were inspired by walks through nature near his Somerset home.

Edwards continued to draw inspiration from nature as his style grew and progressed towards the powerful masculine forms for which he is known today. The textural sculptures reflect the landscape around him, and his figures’ sense of motion, which conveys themes of strength and self-discovery, also reference the sculptor’s own struggles with dyslexia.

Edwards's sculptures are popular among private collectors in England and throughout Europe and America. He has exhibited at Red Rag Gallery and other galleries all over the United Kingdom.

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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.

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