Terracotta Face Sardinian
2010s Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
2010s Figurative Sculptures
Resin
People Also Browsed
Vintage 1980s Fountains
Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century French Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
1940s Post-War Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
2010s Constructivist Abstract Sculptures
Metal
Early 20th Century American Modern Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Minna HarkavyBronze Modernist Sculpture Portrait, Leo Stein by Minna Harkavy WPA Artist, c.1930-1940
2010s Impressionist Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Antique Early 1900s Italian Art Nouveau Figurative Sculptures
Marble, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Table Lamps
Antique 19th Century French Classical Greek Figurative Sculptures
Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Animal Sculptures
Marble, Bronze
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche
Glass
2010s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Resin
Antique 1890s Japanese Meiji Animal Sculptures
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary 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.