Sculptures

Sculpture, along with painting, is perhaps the oldest form of art. Engravings in rocks or dirt predate cave paintings in some cases.

Sculpture was primarily centered around pottery during ancient times, particularly in ancient Greece. As trade and mercantilism expanded, the need to pottery grew with it.

Famous Sculptures

Bird in Space – Constantin Brancusi (1923)

Constantin Brancusi was a futurist sculptor who made 16 of these very minimalist sculptures (7 marble, 9 polished bronze).

When Brancusi shipped the sculpture to the US, the customs agents didn’t consider it art and Brancusi was charged 40% of its sale price (art is exempt from customs taxes). Only after a successful, albeit long, legal battle was Brancusi compensated for the mistake.

Only after a successful, albeit long, legal battle was Brancusi compensated for the mistake.


Venus of Willendorf – Unknown (28,000-25,000 BC)

Discovered in Austria in 1908, this ancient sculpture is shrouded in mystery due to its unknown purpose and creator.

Venus of Willendorf is a great example of early figurative art.


The Terracotta Army 210-209 BC

Considered the most significant archaeological find in history, this army of 8,000+ soldiers were found near the tomb of Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China.

It’s believed that the soldiers were meant to protect Shi Huang in the afterlife.

The statues are life-sized, and their height varies based on rank. The soldiers’ faces are made up from 10 different molds on an assembly-line process.