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.
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
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
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
$11,572
H 26.78 in W 9.45 in D 7.09 in
Writing No. 2 by Martine Demal - Contemporary bronze sculpture, abstract, form
By Martine Demal
Located in Paris, FR
Writing No. 2 is a bronze sculpture by contemporary artist Martine Demal, dimensions including brass base are 68 cm × 24 cm × 18 cm (26.8 × 9.4 × 7.1 in). The sculpture is signed an...
Bronze
Bronze Sculpture “Arise”
By Frank Arnold
Located in Fresno, CA
Frank Arnold is thought by many to be one of the foremost abstract figurative painters and sculptors of our time. He is a living master whose work is considered to be both personal a...
Bronze
Ugo La Pietra Black Bronze Abstract Ad Arte
Located in Brescia, IT
This artwork is a multiples limited not numbered specimens created by the Italian artist Ugo La Pietra, a well known Internationally artist. Ugo La Pietra was born in Bussi Sul Tiri...
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
$1,750
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
$25,312
H 13.39 in W 17.33 in D 10.63 in
Alchemy by Romain Langlois - Rock-like bronze sculpture, golden, abstract
By Romain Langlois
Located in Paris, FR
Alchemy is a bronze sculpture by contemporary artist Romain Langlois, dimensions are 34 × 44 × 27 cm (13.4 × 17.3 × 10.6 in). The sculpture is signed and numbered, it is part of a l...
Bronze
$126,450
H 104.73 in W 27.56 in D 23.63 in
Signs and Writings No. 2 by Martine Demal - Outdoor bronze sculpture, abstract
By Martine Demal
Located in Paris, FR
Signs and Writings No. 2 is a monumental bronze sculpture by contemporary artist Martine Demal, dimensions of the bronze sculpture: 236 H x 70 cm L x 45 cm D, dimensions of the brass...
Bronze
$11,500
H 45.5 in W 32 in D 20 in
"Viewer" Bronze Sculpture 41.5" x 32 "x 20" inch Ed. 1/1 by Sergii Shaulis
By Sergii Shaulis
Located in Culver City, CA
"Viewer" Bronze Sculpture 41.5" x 32 "x 20" inch Ed. 1/1 by Sergii Shaulis 2020 From the Fateful Flowers series Approximate weight 75 lbs ABOUT ARTIST Born on 27 May 1985 in Kharkiv, Ukraine. From 2005 to 2011 studied at the Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Arts, at the Faculty of "Fine Arts" specialty "Easel and monumental sculpture." Now studying postgraduate at Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Arts. Works are in private collections in Ukraine, Israel, Germany, USA, Australia, Finland, Holland, Spain, Belgium, England. Education 2002‑2005 Faculty of Engineering and Physics (NTU KhPI) 2005‑2011 Easel and monumental sculpture (KSADA) 2012-2016 postgraduate education (KSADA) Exhibitions 2007-15 City exhibition HONSKHU. Kharkiv. 2007-14 Ukrainian Exhibition KONSKHU. Kyiv. 2008-11 "The maestro and his students", KSADA. Kharkiv (Audience Award 2009) 2008 11 International Triennial of sculpture. Kyiv . 2009 “Male portrait”, gallery KSADA. Kharkiv . 2009 "You get SMS ", Kharkiv ( Grand Prix "The best sculpture...
Bronze, Steel
$7,500
H 12.5 in W 22.75 in D 12.5 in
Brutalist Modern Abstract Bronze Sculpture Metropolis Manner of Louise Nevelson
By Abbott Pattison
Located in Surfside, FL
A very heavy, massive bronze sculpture by an important Chicago sculptor. Signed and marked "Firenze" with "Fuse Marinelli". METROPOLIS. Seven abstract shapes on black marble base. 1...
Marble, Bronze
$3,950
H 9 in W 4 in D 2.5 in
"The man without a rod №6" Bronze Sculpture 9 x 4 in. Ed. 1/9 by Sergii Shaulis
By Sergii Shaulis
Located in Culver City, CA
"The man without a rod №6" Bronze Sculpture 9 x 4 in. Ed. 1/9 by Sergii Shaulis 9" x 4" x 2.5'' inch Weight: 8 lbs "The man without a rod" series: The artist spent almost ten yea...
Bronze
$14,102
H 13.39 in W 13 in D 6.7 in
Signs and Writings No. 7 by Martine Demal - Bronze sculpture, abstract
By Martine Demal
Located in Paris, FR
Signs and Writings No. 7 is a bronze sculpture by contemporary artist Martine Demal, dimensions are 34 × 33 × 17 cm (13.4 × 12.9 × 6.7 in). The sculpture is signed and numbered, it ...
Bronze
$89,322
H 78.75 in W 18.9 in D 18.9 in
Signs & Writings No. 1 by Martine Demal - large abstract bronze sculpture, green
By Martine Demal
Located in Paris, FR
Bronze sculpture with patinated brass base. Dimensions: 200 × 48 × 48 cm (dimensions include the base of the sculpture, which is 4 cm x 48 cm x 48 cm (1.6 H x 18.9 W x 18.9 in D). L...
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