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.
$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
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
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
$1,750
H 14.5 in W 7.5 in D 6.5 in
After Fernando Botero Standing Woman Bronze Sculpture, Edition of 50
By Fernando Botero
Located in Cuauhtemoc, Ciudad de México
After Fernando Botero – STANDING WOMAN Bronze Sculpture Edition of 50 This beautifully executed bronze sculpture is an After Fernando Botero work, created in faithful homage to th...
Marble, Bronze
$1,400
H 10.24 in W 3.94 in D 3.15 in
Musicians. By Constantin Selihanov. Bronze.
Located in Riga, LV
Konstantin Vladimirovich Selikhanov (born June 18, 1967, Minsk) is a Belarusian sculptor, artist, and graphic artist, the grandson of sculptor S. I. Selikhanov. The alley leading to ...
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
$1,400
H 10.24 in W 3.15 in D 2.76 in
Musician. By Constantin Selihanov. Bronze.
Located in Riga, LV
Konstantin Vladimirovich Selikhanov (born June 18, 1967, Minsk) is a Belarusian sculptor, artist, and graphic artist, the grandson of sculptor S. I. Selikhanov. The alley leading to ...
Bronze
$950
H 11 in W 8 in D 8 in
Rare Antique Judaica Hanging Bronze Jewish Synagogue or Temple Oil Lamp w Chain
Located in Surfside, FL
Judaica Shabbat Continental Hanging Solid Brass Oil Lamp with Central Six Pointed Jewish Star Shaped Body Dimensions Approx: with Chain 23"H x 8 11 x 8 x 8 chain is 22" long Antique...
Brass, Bronze
Geo
By Kevin Barrett
Located in Wiscasett, ME
Abstract fabricated bronze sculpture by Kevin Barrett, signed and dated 2017. Kevin Barrett is currently the sculptor in residence at the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens in Palm Beach....
Bronze
$1,500
H 18 in W 16 in D 9 in
American Craft Studio Handmade Sculpture Welded Bronze Kinetic Vessel Op Art
Located in Surfside, FL
Great studio piece. It does not appear to be signed. Welded bronze an openwork vessel or vase Verdigris patina, might be suitable for outdoors Dimensions: 18 X 16 X 9 inches Provena...
Bronze
$950
H 6.5 in W 4.5 in D 4.5 in
Rare Antique Judaica Hanging Bronze Jewish Synagogue or Temple Oil Lamp w Chain
Located in Surfside, FL
6.5 X 4.5 X 4.5 18" chain Antique Judaica brass hanging Sabbath or Synagogue Oil Lamp with seven wick oil reservoir. Heavy brass or bronze chain and hook for hanging. Estimated to the 19th century or earlier. there are no markings but similar pieces have been in the Bezalel Museum collection and the Israel Museum collection and the Jewish Museum collection in New York city.. Judaic Shabbat...
Brass, Bronze
$18,000
H 43 in W 43 in D 5 in
"Striper", Bronze Wall Relief Sculpture, Abstract, Metal, Contemporary
By Kevin Barrett
Located in New York, NY
"Striper" by Kevin Barrett Sculptural wall piece in bronze metal Barrett is noted for creating contemporary metal sculpture and sculpture wall pieces for indoor and outdoor display....
Metal, Bronze
$3,850
H 18 in W 6 in D 6 in
"Experience №1 v.2" Bronze Sculpture 18 x 6 x 6 in Edition 1/5 by Sergii Shaulis
By Sergii Shaulis
Located in Culver City, CA
"Experience №1 v.2" Bronze Sculpture 18 x 6 x 6 in Edition 1/5 by Sergii Shaulis 2019 From the EXPERIENCE series Bronze Approximate weight 15lbs ABOUT ARTIST Born on 27 May 1985 ...
Bronze
$7,000
H 4 in W 6.5 in D 5.5 in
Abstract Bronze Sculpture, Unique Signed work from the estate of Arthur Carr
By Peter Reginato
Located in New York, NY
Peter Reginato Abstract Bronze Sculpture, ca. 1987 Bronze Signed on the underside 4 × 6 1/2 × 5 1/2 inches This bronze sculpture is by the American abstract sculptor Peter Reginato. ...
Bronze
$4,200
H 36.5 in Dm 42.5 in
Brutalist Mid-Century Sunburst Wall Sculpture in Mixed Metals by Stuart Mathews
Located in Dallas, TX
Stuart Mathews was a prolific sculptor who studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and Cranbrook in the 1950s. His work is characterized by his ability to combine a variety of differ...
Brass, Bronze, Steel
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