Kathleen Friedenberg Bronze Horse Sculptures
Early 2000s American Realist Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Early 2000s American Realist Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
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Antique 19th Century English Sports Equipment and Memorabilia
Iron
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
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Early 2000s Naturalistic Figurative Sculptures
Tapestry, Clay, Wood
Early 2000s American Wall-mounted Sculptures
Clay, Natural Fiber, Blown Glass
Early 20th Century American Industrial Sports Equipment and Memorabilia
Leather, Natural Fiber
Antique Early 19th Century European Neoclassical Prints
Paper
Vintage 1970s French Art Deco Animal Sculptures
Art Glass
Antique 19th Century Italian Screens and Room Dividers
Canvas, Wood
Antique 1890s French Napoleon III Busts
Alabaster
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Vases
Bronze, Enamel
20th Century Austrian Art Deco Abstract Sculptures
Bronze
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wood, Antler
Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Neoclassical Busts
Carrara Marble
21st Century and Contemporary French Table Lamps
Bronze
Early 20th Century German Animal Sculptures
Bronze
2010s Abstract Sculptures
Granite, Bronze
Recent Sales
Early 2000s American Realist Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
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.