Sculptures aren’t something to merely look at—they are powerful, three‑dimensional objects that can bring texture, volume, and storytelling into a space.
From prehistoric carvings to Greek marbles, Renaissance statues, and modernist experiments, the history of sculpture is almost as far-reaching as the history of human expression. The medium continues to be subject to experimentation and reinvention, too. In the 20th century, for example, artists expanded the field with industrial materials and conceptual forms, broadening how sculpture was made and understood.
In the right setting, a sculpture can anchor a foyer, break up the sightlines of a living room, or punctuate a gorgeous garden. “The volume of sculpture—it becomes the space,” Elizabeth Fiore, a New York–based art adviser, told Artsy.
There is no shortage of sculpture to be found in today’s art market. You’ll find historic and contemporary pieces at galleries and art fairs, while online platforms make it easier than ever to purchase and discover works. From tabletop bronzes to large-scale outdoor installations, the category is broad: figurative works, abstract forms, freestanding pieces, wall-mounted reliefs, and mixed-media constructions are just some of what falls under sculpture’s broad umbrella.
Buying sculptures offers more than decoration. The right piece might complement your paintings or photographs or serve as a standalone statement that shapes how people move through a space. Yet sculpture also comes with considerations for buyers that distinguish it from most two-dimensional art: scale, weight, material durability, and maintenance, especially for outdoor works or fragile media like glass and porcelain, are among the factors buyers must keep in mind.
Whether your taste runs to classic marble busts or brightly painted steel forms, Artsy spoke to experts about what you need to know about buying sculpture.
Why buy sculpture
Column (Rosso di Masso), 2025
Conrad Willems
Grège Gallery
Capital, 1989
Ian Hamilton Finlay
Ingleby Gallery
Sculptures offer one of the most direct ways to experience how art transforms the space you live in.
Part of this is thanks to its engaging presence: Sculptures catch light and cast shadows in a way that other artworks do not. A well-placed piece doesn’t just complement a room; it interacts with the other artworks and the furniture. Fiore credits her ability to tastefully display sculpture to her childhood. “I grew up with an interior designer stepmother, and that really informed how I can understand space,” she recalled, explaining how her childhood home contained a stark green, sculpture-like tub that transformed the grey room.
Water in Dripping-Circulation, 2024
Zheng Lu 郑路
Galerie Sept
Plis de la Vie, 2013
Daniele Basso
Galerie Sept
Because the medium encompasses such a wide range of materials—bronze, carved stone, wood, resin, glass, even found objects—they can complement a range of living spaces and diversity of moods and tones. This variety extends to price points as well as materials: Smaller works or editions may cost under $1,000, making them accessible to first-time buyers, while larger or hand-finished pieces range higher.
There is also much to love about a medium that can be both emotive and concrete. “In French, we say coup de foudre when it comes to love at first sight,” said Florian Araïb, founder of Galerie Sept. “I do believe in purchasing with the heart over investment, and I think if you loved it once, you might love it forever—or at least keep the sculpture as a reminder of what you once loved. I always say: buy with your heart.”
How to discover sculpture
The best way into sculpture is to browse as much of it as possible: visit galleries, walk through art fairs, or browse online platforms. As Florence Ingleby, co-founder of Edinburgh’s Ingleby Gallery, notes, it is the “same for any kind of art—we would suggest they look around, find galleries they like, and gallerists to talk to, and visit art fairs.”
For many first-time buyers, digital tools can open up access to a wide range of artists. Online platforms can be especially useful for exploring emerging sculptors, whose works often come at lower price points than paintings.
“Platforms like Artsy give a strong base and a lot of possibilities to interact with sculpture—not only through pictures but also videos,” Araïb said. “Videos are crucial; for example, polished stainless steel is an extraordinary material, but in a simple picture found online, you might forget that a big part of its spectacular quality is in its reflection.”
Discovery also means identifying which styles and materials feel most compelling to you. Once you know what resonates—material or style—you can begin to explore in depth.
Here are some examples of popular sculptural styles to start with:
- Stone Carving: Sculptures made from shaping solid stone through chiseling and polishing, such as marble or granite.
- Wood Carving: Sculptures made from hardwoods or softwoods
- Modeling: Sculptures made from built-up soft materials like clay or wax.
- Casting: Forms made from pouring liquid material (metal, plaster, resin) into a mold.
- Assemblage: Combining found objects or different materials into a single sculpture.
- Relief Sculpture: Carved or modeled forms that project from a flat background.
- Kinetic Sculpture: Sculptures with moving parts, often powered by wind, motors, or human interaction.
- Installation Art: Large-scale, often site-specific sculptures designed to transform a space.
- Light Sculpture: Sculptures that use light sources such as LEDs, neon, and projections as a primary medium.
- Digital/3D Printed Sculpture: Using digital modeling and 3D printing to produce physical works.
Dropping Bottles - Sequence, 2014
Iran do Espírito Santo
Ingleby Gallery
“Sculpture encompasses so many different things,” Juliet Burrows, founder of Hostler Burrows x HB381, said. “What material are you most drawn to? Do you want something that feels like it’s something really natural…that someone is working with a material that comes from nature? That’s a very different feeling from…something that’s been digitally drawn or realized or made of a synthetic material. The industrial versus something warm and organic…Do you want to feel that you’re bringing nature into your home, or do you want to feel like you’re bringing science and technology into your home?”
What to consider before buying
Dragoness (large), 2024
Marcelo Martin Burgos
Artistics
Buying sculpture introduces a different set of considerations than purchasing paintings and photography. Its three-dimensional presence often demands that you consider how it occupies space and endures over time. Here’s what you should consider before making a sculpture purchase.
Material and size
The choice of material used in a sculpture affects longevity and care. For instance, bronze is durable and develops a natural patina, and aluminum often requires little maintenance. Stainless steel will only need occasional polishing, whereas a fragile surface like wax or composites demands special considerations.
Ensure that you ask questions about the specific care required for the artwork when purchasing, including where you intend to display it. Araïb recalled that one collector placed a wax piece in a sunlit veranda—only to watch it melt. Size and weight must also be thought through. “Weight and size must be considered, since they both influence each other,” he said. “I’ve seen clients wanting to move their sculptures from one room to another; this can be challenging, and a lot can go wrong—even posing risks to personal health or the home.”
For secondary market works (works that have been owned previously), it’s advisable to request a condition report and ask about any past repairs to ensure that you’re able to care for the artwork adequately.
Grey Calliandra, 2022
Eva Zethraeus
Hostler Burrows x HB381
Indoor versus outdoor
Sculptures, particularly larger pieces, are often displayed outdoors. “This is a question we’re fielding so often because people have terraces and gardens,” said Burrows, noting that a lot of the worries from new buyers revolve around what material works best for what region.
Fiore recalls that a client once acquired a glass sculpture by Mexican artist Jose Davila, who hoped to display the piece outdoors. Before establishing its permanent home, she made sure that the glass and the steel could withstand the weather. The best advice is to do the proper research and work with professionals, whether that’s a gallerist or advisor, to safely place your work.
Metaphysical thesis, 2019
Jose Dávila
Nara Roesler
Condition and placement
Many sculptures contain fragile areas, such as noses or fingers, which can be vulnerable to damage. These accidents often happen from a variety of factors that, once acquired, can be avoided.
Ingleby underscores the importance of setting, noting that “sculptures in a client’s home tend to be presented very differently from a gallery setting, so this all needs consideration.” If you’re intending on living with sculptures in high-traffic parts of your home, they could be subject to the same wear and tear as furniture and other similar items. If you have kids or pets (or even guests), it is important to consider the precarious nature of some more fragile items. Ingleby suggests buyers ask, “Would it be best housed in a (perhaps temporary) enclosure?”
Head, 2016
Tony Matelli
Independent Curators International (ICI)
Proper placement can tie a room together. Fiore recalled an example where a client placed a modest Tony Matelli sculpture on a coffee table, and it brought the room together. “ Imagine that coffee table without that [sculpture], with just a bowl, it really brings it to life,” she said.
Transport is another hidden challenge. Heavy or awkwardly shaped works usually require professional movers, both to protect the piece and avoid personal injury.
El Sueño, 1996
Fernando Botero
M.S. Rau
Be mindful of provenance
It’s wise to look into the provenance of sculptures bought on the secondary market, where you can seek originals or editions authorized by the artist.
Reputable provenance builds trust in the work and secures long-term value. It’s also worth asking dealers about past ownership, exhibition history, or supporting documentation. These details quell some unease while also deepening the narrative of your acquisition.
3 tips for buying sculpture
Pantheon, 2021
David Schafer
PHASE Gallery
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions: “We tend to talk through the purchases of all sculptures in great detail, thinking about how and where they will be displayed to ensure there aren’t any surprises or mistakes,” said Ingleby.
- Ask galleries for help with the practicalities: “Follow your gut! If you have that immediate connection, that’s where the magic begins,” said Araïb. “Then, rely on a gallery you trust to take care of the practicalities—from advising on materials to handling and installation—so you can simply enjoy the joy and presence of the work in your life.”
- Map out your space before you buy: Before making a purchase, make sure you take stock of your allotted space. Fiore suggests asking yourself, “What can you physically deal with?” to better understand how a sculpture would add to a space. You don’t want to end up with a massive sculpture that’s stuck at the front door, because you didn’t think about how it would fit.
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