Sculpture

Artist Stories

Lee Ufan—The Beauty of Emptiness

Lee Ufan is a Korean-born international artist, whose work is key to the Mono-ha movement. If you have ever been lucky enough to encounter a Lee...

Isla Phillips-Ewen 5 January 2026

The Statue of Liberty, Masterpiece Stories

Masterpiece Story: Statue of Liberty

On a small island just out of New York City’s harbor, Lady Liberty greets anyone arriving in the United States from the Atlantic Ocean. Over the...

Anastasia Manioudaki 4 January 2026

Bizarre

The Intriguing Tale of Shocking Sheela Na Gig and Its Art References

Everyone remembers their first sighting of a Sheela Na Gig. Wandering around an old church, breathing in the architecture, the history, the silence.

Candy Bedworth 2 January 2026

Ancient Art

How to Show Up in a Gym—3 Ancient Sculptures of Hercules

In Greek mythology, Herakles was a demigod and a much-admired heroic figure. The Romans called him Hercules (Herakles was his Greek name), and he was...

Ameera Patel 1 January 2026

Neoclassicism

The Return of Canova’s Colossal Horse. Reassembled After Half a Century

Antonio Canova was the most famous European sculptor of the Neoclassical period. Best known today for the pristine perfection of his marble figures,...

Catriona Miller 22 December 2025

Contemporary Art

5 Unconventional Materials in Contemporary Art

Contemporary sculpture long ago broke free from classical forms and traditional aesthetics. More and more often, artists choose nondurable,...

Zacheta 18 December 2025

Meret Oppenheim, Object.Paris, 1936, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Surrealism

Surrealist Meret Oppenheim in 5 Artworks

Exploring five works by female Surrealist Meret Oppenheim

Candy Bedworth 16 December 2025

Standing Bodhisattva, 3rd century, gray schist stone, Gandhara, Pakistan, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, Australia. Detail. Masterpiece Stories

Masterpiece Story: Standing Bodhisattva

Standing Bodhisattva is a great example of Gandharan art and its blended multicultural origins: East meets...

James W Singer 14 December 2025

Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, ca 1766-1833, lacquered gilt wood, Vietnam, Musée Guimet, Paris, France. Detail. Masterpiece Stories

Masterpiece Story: Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara

Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara was donated to the Musée Guimet in Paris, France, in 1889 by French archeologist Gustave Dumoutier. It represents the...

James W Singer 14 December 2025

Buddha Dated 338, gilt bronze, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA, USA. Detail. Masterpiece Stories

Masterpiece Story: Buddha Dated 338

Buddha dated 338 is a masterpiece of Buddhist art and Chinese art with deep historical significance. It exemplifies the early blending of Indian...

James W Singer 14 December 2025

Artist Stories

Camille Claudel and Auguste Rodin: It’s Complicated

There is a common saying that behind every great man, there is a great woman. It was no exception for the legendary sculptor, generally considered...

Zuzanna Stańska 10 December 2025

Medieval Art

The Complicated Meaning and Mysterious Origin of The Cloisters Cross

The Cloisters Cross is a beautiful English Romanesque walrus ivory cross, likely dating to the middle of the 12th century. From the moment it...

Alexandra Kiely 9 December 2025