Fernando Botero Head
1980s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
1990s Modern Abstract Sculptures
Ceramic, Pottery
1950s Modern Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
20th Century Modern Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
People Also Browsed
Vintage 1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Abstract Sculptures
Wood
20th Century American Art Deco Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Enamel
1920s Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Late 20th Century Sculptures and Carvings
Teak
Antique 19th Century English Baroque Animal Sculptures
Marble
21st Century and Contemporary Books
Paper
Antique Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Chairs
Fabric, Giltwood
Antique Mid-18th Century Baroque Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Mirror, Giltwood
20th Century French Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Enamel, Gold
20th Century Beninese Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
2010s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Paintings
Oil
1950s Surrealist Figurative Prints
Rice Paper, Woodcut
Late 20th Century English Animal Sculptures
Iron
20th Century American Folk Art More Folk Art
Shell, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Recent Sales
2010s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Alabaster, Marble
2010s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Marble
2010s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Alabaster, Marble
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024Fernando Botero is famous for his signature artistic style, which depicts people and figures in large, exaggerated sizes and conveys political criticism or humor, depending on the piece. Botero came to national prominence when he won the first prize at the Salón de Artistas Colombianos in 1958. He began creating sculptures after moving to Paris in 1973, achieving international recognition with exhibitions across the world by the 1990s. His art is collected by many major international museums, corporations and private collectors today. Shop a selection of Fernando Botero art on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Fernando Botero was an artist known for his satirical artwork. His ‘Mona Lisa, Age 12’, a parody of Leonard DaVinci’s magnum opus, shot him to fame in 1959. Shop a selection of Fernando Botero pieces from some of the world’s top art dealers on 1stDibs.
Read More
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.
When Art Galleries Join Together, Everybody Wins
Art associations are known for their glitzy fairs, but these organizations do a ton of work behind the scenes to help gallerists and collectors. Here, the heads of five major art associations give us the rundown of what they do.