Monumental Head Mayan
Late 20th Century Realist Figurative Sculptures
Other Medium
2010s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Granite, Bronze
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
1990s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
2010s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Gold Leaf, Bronze
People Also Browsed
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
Ceramic
15th Century and Earlier Figurative Sculptures
Marble
1970s American Modern Nude Photography
Silver Gelatin
1980s Contemporary Mixed Media
Mixed Media, Color
1980s Cubist Abstract Sculptures
Wood, Oil
Mid-20th Century American Impressionist Sculptures
Wood, Paint
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Grand Tour Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Antique 15th Century and Earlier North American Pre-Columbian Figurative...
Clay, Precious Stone, Hardwood
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Nude Paintings
Oil, Panel
Early 2000s American Wall-mounted Sculptures
Clay, Natural Fiber, Blown Glass
2010s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Bronze, Steel
1930s Modern Portrait Prints
Lithograph
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Minimalist Table Mirrors
Marble, Carrara Marble, Copper
1990s Expressionist Nude Sculptures
Bronze
2010s Contemporary Nude Photography
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment, Digital Pigment
1880s French School Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Recent Sales
20th Century Folk Art Figurative Sculptures
Terracotta
Vintage 1960s American Folk Art Sculptures
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.
Read More
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.
From Yayoi Kusama’s New Show to Your Veggie Garden, Outdoor Sculpture Wows
From massive abstract forms to colorful, playful characters, these spaces prove that experiencing art alfresco is a joy.