Kota Reliquary Figure
1970s Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Copper
People Also Browsed
20th Century Beninese Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Metal, Bronze
Mid-20th Century Ghanaian Tribal Tribal Art
Wood
Mid-20th Century Ivorian Tribal Tribal Art
Glass, Wood
Antique 1890s Gabonese Primitive Tribal Art
Brass, Copper, Iron
Early 20th Century Angolan Other Tribal Art
Wood
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Nigerian Primitive Figurative Sculptures
Terracotta
Mid-20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art
Wood
Mid-20th Century Ghanaian Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Glass, Wood
1920s Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Vintage 1930s Ghanaian Tribal Tribal Art
Wood
Mid-20th Century Nigerian Animal Sculptures
Bronze
Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art
Wood
Early 20th Century Ivorian Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Wood
Vintage 1920s Gabonese Tribal Tribal Art
Brass
Early 20th Century Congolese Tribal Tribal Art
Wood
Early 20th Century Ivorian Other Tribal Art
Wood
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.
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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.