The 10 Most Famous Sculptors of All Time and Their Incredible Works
Sculpting is one of the oldest and most respected art forms in the world. It takes an immense amount of skill, patience, and dedication to create a beautiful masterpiece out of nothing but a block of raw material. Throughout history, sculptors have pushed the boundaries of what’s possible with their incredible works. Here are 10 of the most famous sculptors of all time, and their incredible works.
1. Michelangelo (1475–1564)
Considered one of the greatest artists of all time, Michelangelo is best known for his sculpture of David. Located in Florence, Italy, this 17ft-tall marble sculpture was carved between 1501 and 1504 and is considered one of the most iconic sculptures in the world. Michelangelo is also known for his Pietà, which is located in the Vatican, and Moses, which is located in Rome.
2. Auguste Rodin (1840–1917)
Auguste Rodin is considered the father of modern sculpture. He is best known for his iconic sculpture, The Thinker. This bronze sculpture, which was completed in 1902, is located at the Musée Rodin in Paris, France. Rodin is also known for his sculpture The Gates of Hell, which is composed of more than 200 figures.
3. Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598–1680)
Gian Lorenzo Bernini is one of the most influential sculptors of the Baroque period. He is best known for his work in Rome, where he created the famous Trevi Fountain and the Colonnade of St. Peter’s Basilica. Bernini is also known for his sculptures Apollo and Daphne, Aeneas, Anchises, and Ascanius, and The Ecstasy of St. Theresa.
4. Donatello (1386–1466)
Donatello was an Italian sculptor and one of the most important figures of the Early Renaissance. He is best known for his bronze sculpture of David, which is located in Florence, Italy. Donatello is also known for his sculptures Judith and Holofernes, Mary Magdalene, and the Equestrian Monument of Gattamelata.
5. Alexander Calder (1898–1976)
Alexander Calder is one of the most influential sculptors of the twentieth century. He is best known for his mobiles, which are sculptures made of metal rods and wire that move in the breeze. Calder is also known for his stationary sculptures, such as the colorful stabiles located in front of the Guggenheim Museum in New York City.
6. Antony Gormley (1950–present)
Antony Gormley is a British sculptor who is best known for creating sculptures that explore the relationship between the human body and its environment. He is best known for his monumental public sculptures, such as Angel of the North in England, and his Room series, which consists of sculptures made of iron and steel.
7. Louise Bourgeois (1911–2010)
Louise Bourgeois was a French-American sculptor who is best known for her large-scale installations and sculptures. She is best known for her sculpture Maman, which is a 30ft-tall spider sculpture located in the Tate Modern in London, England. Bourgeois is also known for her sculpture Cells, which are sculptural environments made of wood, metal, fabric, and found objects.
8. Henry Moore (1898–1986)
Henry Moore was an English sculptor and one of the most important figures of the twentieth century. He is best known for his semi-abstract monumental bronze sculptures, such as the Reclining Figure located in London, England. Moore is also known for his abstract sculptures, such as the Large Two Forms located in Toronto, Canada.
9. Constantin Brâncuși (1876–1957)
Constantin Brâncuși was a Romanian sculptor and one of the most important figures of modern sculpture. He is best known for his abstract sculptures, such as The Kiss, which is located in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Brâncuși is also known for his Bird in Space sculptures, which are composed of polished bronze and marble.