Sculpture is an important form of public art. Sculptures are three-dimensional figures, including height, width, and depth, that can be created from carving wood or stone or by modeling clay and then casting it in the form of bronze. Sculptures can also be made from stone such as marble, metals, glass, wood, and plastic materials such as clay, textiles, polymers, and other soft metals. But did you know that there are eleven types of sculpture?
Free standing sculpture art is surrounded by space on all sides, except for the sculpture’s base. This type of sculpture is sometimes referred to as sculpture in the round. The purpose of free standing sculpture is to be seen from any angle.
Sound sculpture is also known as sound art and sound installation. Sound sculpture art is a mixture of media and time based art form. This type of art comes from sculpture of any kind of art object that produces sound. Sound sculpture artists were mainly visual artists or composer, and they did not intend for their art to make sound sculpture in the beginning.
Like sound sculpture an artist, the next form of sculpting art is known as light sculpture art. This type of art is a mixture of media and time based art form, however this type of sculpture art comes from any kind of art object that produces light. Light sculpture artists were also primarily visual artists or composers, and they did not intend for their art to make light sculpture in the beginning.
Jewelry is another form of art sculpture. Jewelry is meant to signify an item of personal adornment. Jewelry can include anything from necklaces, rings, broaches, earrings, or bracelets. Jewelry can be made from any material such as gemstone, precious metals, or even shells.
Relief, another from of art sculpture, is an art that is still attached to its background. Forms of relief art include bas-relief, alto-relievo, and sunken-relief.
Site-specific sculpture art is a type of artwork that is created to exist in a certain place. Often times both sound and light sculpture art are good examples of site-specific sculpture art.
Kinetic sculpture art is based on containing moving parts. Kinetic art also relies on motion in order to reach its full potential. One type of kinetic art is the use of a fountain which uses running water. Another example of kinetic art is mobile. Mobile art uses the principle of equilibrium for its effect.
Statue sculpture is a type of art that depicts a person, event, animal, or object for its representation. One example of statue sculpture art is a bust. A bust is a statue representation that includes the chest up of a person or animal. Another example of statue sculpture is is equestrian statue which depicts an infamous person riding on horseback.
Stacked sculpture art is the use of stacking objects on top of each other. This type of sculpture art is obviously free standing and is sometimes the work of an amateur as well as experienced sculptors.
Architectural sculpture art is usually designed by an architect or it can be made by a sculptor. This type of sculpture art involves the creation of art for buildings, bridges, mausoleums, or other such projects.
The last type of sculpture art is environmental sculpture. This type of art can be designed using ecological issues, or the natural, political, historical, or the social content of art. An environmental sculpture is a 20th century art form that is used to create or even change the environment for the person viewing the art form. Land art, also known as earth art, is an art movement that was born in the United States in the 1960’s and the early 1970’s. This type of environmental art consists when the work of art is linked with the landscape.