17 Famous Sculptors and Their Styles Through the Ages

First appearing before 30,000 B.C., the art of sculpture has taken many forms — both literally and figuratively — over the course of history. From prehistoric stone carvings to immersive and avant-garde installations, sculptures have long delighted art lovers, collectors, and historians alike. The work of sculptors throughout history provides insights into the artistic and cultural motifs of their respective eras.

Keep reading to explore the work and lives of the world’s most famous sculptors and how the art of sculpture has evolved over millennia.

Influential Sculptors and Their Works Through History

Below is a guide to some of the most historically significant sculptors, as well as their most notable works, from the 14th to 21st centuries.

1. Donatello (1386–1466)

Born in Florence, Italy, Donatello first explored sculpture as a metalsmith apprentice at age 16. Four years later, he traveled to Rome to study classical art, where he began to absorb the nuances of Gothic art. As the Italian Renaissance period (ca. 1300–1600) progressed, however, his style became more classical — and also more distinctive.

In stone, metal, and wood, Donatello was able to sculpt figures with an unprecedented sense of realism and emotion. As a result of his illustrious career across Italy, Donatello ultimately set a new standard in creating sculptures with perspective and depth.

One of his best-known sculptures is his 1453–1455 work ‘Penitent Magdalene,’ a wooden sculpture commissioned by the Baptistery of Florence. This historical work is a prime example of Donatello’s ability to stir provocative emotions among viewers through the facial expressions of his subjects.

2. Michelangelo (1475–1564)

Michelangelo, who was born in Caprese, Italy before moving to Florence during infancy, was a Renaissance sculptor who grew up in a family of stonecutters. Like Donatello, Michelangelo received a formal classical art education, although his was under the high-status Lorenzo de’ Medici.

While Michelangelo was a multi-disciplined artist who created paintings, architecture, and poetry, his preferred medium was the marble sculpture. His works, such as his 1494–1495 sculpture ‘Angel,’ paved the way for the Mannerist (ca. 1520-1600), Counter-Reformation (ca. 1545-1700), and Baroque (ca. 1600-1750) periods.

3. Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598–1680)

AlthoughGian Lorenzo Bernini was born in Italy like his classical counterparts Donatello and Michelangelo, his sculptures are the most emblematic of the Baroque period. He primarily sculpted with bronze and marble, and, as characteristic of the Baroque style, he set out to create dramatic, dynamic depictions of his subjects. Bernini’s 1624 sculpture ‘David’ is a prime example of his ability to depict a subject in motion and of his talent for Baroque artistry.

4. Antonio Canova (1757–1822)

Born in Possagno, Italy, Antonio Canova was primarily raised by his grandfather, a sculptor and stonecutter. He began sculpting his masterpieces during the Neoclassical period (ca. 1750-1850), and his marble sculptures often featured mythological or religious subjects.

One of Canova’s best-known works is his ca. 1813-1817 sculpture ‘The Three Graces,’ which captures the three daughters of Zeus in a tender embrace. The piece reflects his propensity for smooth, organic structures and his commitment to Neoclassicism.

5. Auguste Rodin (1840–1917)

Auguste Rodin had humble beginnings in a poor section of Paris’ Fifth Arrondissement, and he began taking art classes at the age of 13. Throughout his adulthood, he grew his expertise in realism and ultimately became known as the father of modern sculpture. Rodin mastered a variety of sculpting media, including clay, bronze, plaster, marble, and wax, and ultimately developed his own unique signatures.

Works such as Rodin’s 1907 sculpture Eternal Spring testify to the sculptor’s craftsmanship. The sculpture’s ridges and imperfect, sometimes sharp edges reveal evidence of Rodin’s sculpting process. His pieces themselves are a time capsule of 19th-century sculpting.

6. Constantin Brâncuși (1876–1957)

Born in Hobiţa, Romania, art historians consider Constantin Brâncuși one of the 20th century’s most renowned sculptors. Brâncuși ushered in a new era in which artists prioritized simplistic artistry over larger-than-life sculptures.

Working with wood, limestone, marble, and bronze, Brâncuși innovatively carved directly out of his sculpting materials as opposed to using clay or plaster models. In one of his most famous sculptures, ‘The Kiss,’ this game-changing technique is fully on display. This sculpture of two kissing lovers is carved directly out of the stone that Brâncuși used rather than being modeled first.

7. Henry Moore (1898–1986)

A well-known Modernist from the 20th century, English artist Henry Moore is best known for his stark, simplistic bronze sculptures. While his work permeates the world of abstract sculpture, many of his popular works aren’t at all ambiguous. Many of them depict the human form — whether concretely, such as in his 1952-1953 sculpture ‘King and Queen,’ or abstractly. His large sculptures can be found across the country — and the world — in everything from museums to outdoor parks.

8. Barbara Hepworth (1903–1975)

Barbara Hepworth, a sculptor from Yorkshire, England, met Henry Moore while studying at the Royal College of Art from 1921 to 1924. While they became friends and, eventually, colleagues in ushering in a new wave of direct-carving sculpture, Hepworth’s style was all her own. Hepworth primarily worked with wood and stone to create smooth, organic shapes that emulated those in nature. Even her 1935 sculpture ‘Discs in Echelon,’ which depicts two inanimate objects, features flawless round edges and the illusion of softness.

9. Louise Bourgeois (1911–2010)

Born in Paris, Louise Bourgeois’ sculptures demonstrate the intersections between Modernism and Surrealism. Through her use of mixed media — including metal, glass, wood, plaster, and fabric — Bourgeois often created pieces that illustrated her real-life experiences.

For example, her 1994 sculpture ‘Spider,’ which depicts both the unsettling and protective qualities of a female spider, was her allegory for motherhood. With her large installations’ nuances and complexities, Bourgeois’ expanded the bounds of what viewers and artists alike had thought sculpture could accomplish.

10. Claes Oldenburg (1929–2022)

Claes Oldenburg, an American sculptor born in Stockholm, received an education in literature, art history, and studio art at Yale University. Working with more malleable media, such as foam, paper, canvas, vinyl, and cloth, Oldenburg was best known for his larger-than-life depictions of mundane objects.

For example, his 1982 sculpture ‘Spitzhacke’ depicts a pickaxe and suggests that it’s “breaking ground” in a park in Kassel, Germany. Art enthusiasts remember Oldenburg for his outlandish creations, whimsical style, and unique approach to pop art.

Famous Living Sculptors

Below is a look at some of the world’s leading contemporary sculptors, along with their most innovative works.

11. Yayoi Kusama (1929–)

Yayoi Kusama was born and raised in Matsumoto, Japan, where she endured countless hardships at the hands of her mother and an oppressive mental illness. However, despite her personal challenges, she has become one of the most renowned sculptors of her time. She is especially well-known for harnessing her trauma-induced hallucinations as inspiration for her art.

Kusama’s sculptures utilize both conventional and unconventional media, from paint and metal to mosaics and mirrors. Some of her best-known works come from her pumpkin series, including her 1994 sculpture ‘Yellow Pumpkin’ on Naoshima, an island in Japan.

12. Antony Gormley (1950–)

London sculptor Antony Gormley< focuses on the interplay between the human body and the space that it occupies. His giant human body sculptures are a laborious process — in fact, his 2010 sculpture ‘Exposure’ took six years to make. Gormley uses meticulous layers of plaster, fiberglass, and lead to create the illusion of fragility in his skeletal figures. His belief that sculpture can change the world has empowered him to make a prominent impact in the world of contemporary art.

13. Jeff Koons (1955–)

Jeff Koons, hailing from York, Pennsylvania, had his first solo exhibition in 1980, when he was in his early twenties. Since then, he has dedicated his artistic efforts to creating playful renditions of objects from popular culture and everyday life. Koons does not shy away from unconventional media — he used flowers in his 1992 sculpture ‘Puppy,’ which appeared in New York’s Rockefeller Center. His impact expands past the arts, as he co-founded the Koons Family International Law and Policy Institute to protect children from abuse and exploitation.

14. Jaume Plensa (1955–)

Jaume Plensa<< grew up in Barcelona, attending both the Llotja School of Art and Design and the Sant Jordi School of Fine Arts. He is best known for his larger-than-life human portrait sculptures, which have appeared in public spaces across the world.

For example, Plensa’s 2018 sculpture ‘Behind the Walls’ sat outside Rockefeller Center before assuming its current position at the University of Michigan Museum of Art. Through unconventional sculpture materials such as cast iron, resin, wax, and glass, Plensa catches the attention of audiences worldwide.

15. Ai Weiwei (1957–)

Ai Weiwei is an artist and activist hailing from Beijing. He attended school in New York City and returned to China to advocate for free speech and expression. One of his avenues for advocacy was through art, and he began creating striking sculptures using materials such as porcelain, metal, wood, and stone.

Notably, Weiwei used a ton of tea leaves shaped into a cubic meter for his 2005 sculpture ‘Ton of Tea.’ This piece explores globalization through China’s most historical export. His innovative artistry and steadfast activism have made him one of China’s most famous living artists.

16. Maya Lin (1959–)

Maya Lin< is the daughter of Chinese immigrants who fled to the United States in 1948 and 1949. She attended Yale University and received a bachelor’s degree in architecture and sculpture, and her background in both disciplines is rich. One of Lin’s most notable works of art is her 2019 granite sculpture ‘Einstein’s Table,’ an installation at Princeton University that emulates a water table. While her sculptures are remarkable, Lin is perhaps most famous for her design of the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington D.C.’s National Mall.

17. Rachel Whiteread (1963–)

London artist Rachel Whiteread works in minimalist sculptures, which she brings to life with materials such as wax, plaster, and resin. While her beginnings were in the United Kingdom, Whiteread has expanded her reach globally, including a public commission for the Holocaust Memorial in Vienna. One of Whiteread’s most renowned works is her 2005 immersive sculpture ‘Embankment,’ a topographic landscape of white cubes that previously appeared at the Tate Modern. Its massive white three-dimensional rectangles call the everyday into sharper focus.

The Legacy of Sculptors Throughout the Ages

Sculpture has long acted as a vehicle for both demonstrating artistic excellence and providing insight into a particular cultural zeitgeist. The greatest sculptors have been at the forefront of new artistic innovations and changed the fabric of art history. Go ahead and browse sculptures currently for sale at auction to learn more about the vast array of pieces currently on the market. You might even find a new piece for your art collection.