In addition to being one of America’s leading civil engineers, Robert Holmes gained considerable acclaim as a self-taught sculptor. His abstract and contemporary bronzes convey strength, grace, optimism and serenity and are reminiscent of the works of Auguste Rodin, Constantin Brâncuși, Gaston Lachaise and Henry Moore.
Holmes was born in 1927 in Missouri, where he grew up amid the Great Depression. He had an instinctive talent for design and, in his teens, helped his father build houses. Holmes later attended the University of Arizona, earning a degree in civil engineering.
In the early 1950s, Holmes moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he established the Robert Holmes Construction, Design and Development Company. He specialized in designing contemporary homes in the Bay Area before he relocated the business to Arizona in 1958.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Holmes was among Arizona’s most successful luxury home builders. His company also designed and built churches, banks, bridges, apartments and manufacturing plants.
In 1981, Holmes decided to pursue a second career as a sculptor and sold his business. With his wife, Edith, he moved to the Sea Ranch, a community located north of San Francisco. Over the next several years, Holmes worked with local foundries to create his sculptures but was dissatisfied with the process. In 1989, he formed his own bronze foundry — Bronze Plus — enabling him to oversee all aspects of production and forge relationships with other bronze artists.
Holmes’s abstract and figurative sculptures garnered attention from art critics and gallery owners across the United States. His semi-abstract and curvilinear works range from table-sized miniatures such as Pas De Tres and Dancers on Toe to large-scale monumental sculptures like The Game and Bull and Ball.
Holmes’s works have been exhibited extensively in the United States, Europe and Asia. His sculptures are in private, corporate and public collections, such as the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln, Massachusetts, the Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, California, and the Hyatt Regency in San Diego. He died in 2016.
On 1stDibs, discover Robert Holmes’s dynamic sculptures.
Arched Dancers 2 (Miniature) #11/40
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Bronze
$39,600
Tossa De Mar
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
Bronze A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-kno...
Bronze
Arabesque (miniature) - 24 Karat Gold plated
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Gold, Bronze
Reverse (miniature) - 24 Karat Gold plated
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Gold, Bronze
$18,317
H 38.19 in W 3.15 in D 3.55 in
Bronze Sculpture 'Bolas IV' by Carola Eggeling, Bronze Patina
By Carola Eggeling
Located in Paris, FR
Bronze Sculpture 'Bolas IV' by Carola Eggeling Abstract sculpture with beautiful curved lines. German bronze sculpture Bronze Patina Certific...
Bronze
$2,500
H 2.7 in Dm 2.7 in
Double Sided Gold Plated Medallion (Limited Edition; Signed and Stamped)
By Arnaldo Pomodoro
Located in New York, NY
ARNALDO POMODORO Double Sided Gold Plated Medallion, 1985 Bronze with Gold Patina 2 7/10 × 2 7/10 × 3/10 inches Limited Edition of 500 Signed by artist with incised signature; Stampe...
Gold, Bronze
$22,000
H 53 in W 9 in D 8 in
Contemporary Cast Glass Sculpture, 'Geologic Editions #6, 2018 by David Ruth
By David Ruth
Located in Oakland, CA
Please allow a three month turnaround time for piece to be made. About the Geologic Editions: The Geologic Editions are studies for Colorado Cascade Mural. David pieced together bit...
Bronze
$1,199
H 15.5 in W 5 in D 5 in
Amazing Original Fahri Aldin Bronze Sculpture. Limited Edition Stunning New Work
By Fahri Aldin
Located in Belleville, CA
An Amazing New Piece at an Incredible Price by renowned Canadian Artist Fahri Aldin. This Stunning Beauty titled 'The Proud Stallion' is Limited Edition 3 out of 27. From his latest ...
Bronze
$2,993
H 7.09 in W 3.15 in D 3.55 in
Bronze Sculpture 'Bolas II' by Carola Eggeling, Bronze Polished
By Carola Eggeling
Located in Paris, FR
Bronze Sculpture 'Bolas II' by Carola Eggeling Abstract sculpture with beautiful curved lines. German bronze sculpture Bronze Polished Certificate of authenticity Numbered and sign...
Bronze
$2,250
H 12 in Dm 4 in
David Hostetler Bronze Sculpture Figurative Green Full Figure Small By Commissio
By David Hostetler
Located in Nantucket, MA
The Classic Lady bronze was cast from a wood carving. She is David's most petite sculpture. Movement and grace with the twist at the waist and tilt of the head. She can add beauty to...
Bronze
$34,480
H 71.66 in W 13.78 in D 12.6 in
Bronze Sculpture 'Rosenmontagsstele' by Carola Eggeling
By Carola Eggeling
Located in Paris, FR
Bronze Sculpture 'Rosenmontagsstele' by Carola Eggeling Abstract sculpture with beautiful curved lines. German bronze sculpture Numbered and signed artwork Limited edition of 6 Meas...
Bronze
$40,466
H 21.66 in W 13 in D 17.33 in
Bronze Sculpture 'PELA' by Carola Eggeling, Bronze Polished
By Carola Eggeling
Located in Paris, FR
Bronze Sculpture 'PELA' by Carola Eggeling Abstract sculpture with beautiful curved lines. German bronze sculpture Bronze Polished Certificate of authenticity Numbered and signed a...
Bronze
$1,199
H 14.5 in W 9 in D 4 in
Amazing Original Fahri Aldin Bronze Sculpture. Limited Edition Stunning New Work
By Fahri Aldin
Located in Belleville, CA
An Amazing New Piece at an Incredible Price by renowned Canadian Artist Fahri Aldin. This Stunning Beauty titled 'The Stallion' is Limited Edition 2 out of 27. From his latest series...
Bronze
$6,500
H 2.88 in W 2.25 in
Vintage Abstract Expressionist Ibram Lassaw Modernist Bronze Sculpture Pendant
By Ibram Lassaw
Located in Surfside, FL
IBRAM LASSAW (Russian-American, 1913-2003), Sculptural pendant Gold plated bronze Signed verso Measurements: 2-7/8''h, 2-1/4''w. Ibram Lassaw was born in Alexandria, Egypt, of Rus...
Gold, Bronze
$1,199
H 16 in W 7 in D 3.25 in
Amazing Original Fahri Aldin Bronze Sculpture. Limited Edition Stunning New Work
By Fahri Aldin
Located in Belleville, CA
An Amazing New Piece at an Incredible Price by renowned Canadian Artist Fahri Aldin. This Stunning Beauty titled 'The Stallion III' is Limited Edition 2 out of 27. From his latest se...
Bronze
$40,000
H 66 in W 12 in D 12 in
David Hostetler Bronze Dark Brown Abstract Figurative Female Frontal Commission
By David Hostetler
Located in Nantucket, MA
Now available by commission. Base can be a bronze base or a carved wood base. Casting takes about 3 months. Semaphore Woman IV is a cast bronze sculpture on a cast bronze base. The ...
Bronze
Arched Dancers 2 (Small) AP
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Bronze
Arabesque (miniature) #3/40
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Bronze
Dancers (Miniature) Turquoise Patina #2/40
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Bronze
Solo (miniature) - 24 Karat Gold plated
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Bronze, Gold
Solo (miniature)
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Bronze
Pas De Tres (miniature unique)
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Bronze
Pas De Tres (miniature, unique)
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Bronze
Just Dancing AP2 (Medium)
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Bronze
Mr. G, Small - High Polish
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Bronze
Banana, High Polish
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Bronze
Arched Dancers 2, Miniature, AP 2
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Bronze
Solo, Small AP 1
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Bronze