Modern Sculpture

Modern art is generally understood to have begun in the mid-to-late 19th century with artists who wanted to break away from classic traditions and techniques of creating sculptures, paintings and other forms of art utilizing the generally accepted coloring and techniques of the time period. These traditional methods had been widely accepted and practiced since the Renaissance period and it was difficult for this new breed of artists to have their work accepted by those who were unfamiliar with the modern designs. These modern artists often created work that depicted ordinary life, which was often not appreciated by the observers of art at that time.

The modern sculpture movement has included many forms of sculpture including mobiles; in fact movement is one of the key elements of many forms of modern sculpture. Additionally, in the modern sculpture world, many artists began to create pieces of art using welded metal. This material gained popularity and was used by many artists in the latter part of the modern art movement as well. Artists were still able to carry on the tradition of movement, even with the metal pieces of art, as they could be set into movement by the art observer or through the use of a machine. This type of interaction created a connection with the piece of art that in many ways was missing in earlier forms of sculpture. In addition, it was also during this time period that "pop art" became popular for its use of routine, everyday items in pieces of art. For these reasons, the art form of modern sculptures has enjoyed a popularity that has eclipsed that of paintings at certain periods.

Due to the fact that modern sculptures have evolved over time to include a variety of techniques and materials, it is an art form that can no longer be defined by these variables that generally apply to the rest of the art world. In some cases, art was created using plants or liquids. No longer created to last, modern sculptures redefined artwork. In addition to the constantly evolving materials and techniques, modern sculpture also separated itself by not blatantly attempting to provide commentary or tell a story. Many art scholars would say that modern sculpture is not created to provide a descriptive, although this point can be argued by those who believe that modern sculpture does seek to provide a viewpoint on consumption or politics.

Some modern sculpture artists also made use of public spaces to display artwork. There are many parks and public spaces with modern sculptures on display. These pieces of art have the ability to completely transform a space and infuse it with new energy while providing a unique and lasting source of interest in cities around the world. These pieces may seek to harmoniously coexist with the existing landscape or they may serve as an unexpected piece meant to surprise the observer.
Eventually the modern art movement gave way to the contemporary art period (from approximately 1970 – today), but many artists still retain some of the key elements of modern art in their works today


Robin Antar is a world-renown sculptor. To learn more about Robin's expertise in stone and abstract sculpture, please visit her web site, htp://www.rantar.com, or blog, htp://www.stonesculptures.org.