Sculpture

Sculpture is a visual arts discipline that creates three-dimensional objects intended to be observed from multiple viewpoints. Works may be freestanding, meant to be viewed in the round, or relief sculptures attached to a background surface. Sculpture uses a wide range of materials, including stone, metal, wood, clay, plaster, plastic, and contemporary composites, and it may incorporate nontraditional elements such as found objects, light, sound, or motion.

Techniques include subtractive carving, additive modeling, casting, forging and fabrication, and various forms of assembly. Subtractive carving removes material to reveal form, while modeling builds form by adding material. Casting uses a mold and liquid or plastic material; fabrication covers joining prefabricated parts. Contemporary sculpture often explores new materials, processes, and technologies such as welded metal, reinforced concrete, polymers, or digital fabrication.

Historically, sculpture has ancient roots in civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and the Indian subcontinent, with works in stone and bronze. Classical sculpture emphasized idealized naturalism; medieval sculpture served religious purposes; the Renaissance revived classical ideals and humanist representation. In the modern era, artists expanded into abstraction, conceptual approaches, and new media, including works that emphasize process, viewer interaction, or site context.

Public sculpture and galleries display works at scales ranging from small objects to monumental forms. Sculptures may commemorate individuals or events or function as nonfigurative explorations of form, texture, and space. Conservation concerns focus on material durability, environmental exposure, and ethical considerations related to display, access, and interpretation.