By
Bernard E. Richardson | Master Teacher – Art Educator |2022

What is Sculpture?
“In my opinion, everything, every shape,
every bit of natural form, animals, people,
pebbles, shells, anything you like are all
things that can help you to make a
sculpture.”
--Henry Moore
Sculpture is a three-dimensional form created by carving, modelling,
construction or assembling materials.
Henry Moore, Reclining Nude, 1951

1. Relief
3. Assemblage
2. Sculpture in-the-round
4. Kinetic/Mobiles
5. Installations
Types
of
Sculpture

TYPES OF SCULPTURE
• A relief is a Sculpture that projects in varying degrees from a flat
background or surface.
• It is seen only from one particular angle (a frontal view).
• There are three (3) types:
1. RELIEF SCULPTURE
1. Low Relief
2. High Relief
3. Sunken Relief

LOW RELIEF
• The figures are slightly raised from the surface or the background.
• Also referred to as ‘Bas Relief’.

HIGH RELIEF
• Sculpture that projects or stands out from the background by at
least half its depth.
• Sometimes they are nearly sculpted in the round.

SUNKEN RELIEF
• Relief that is carved or sunken down into the background.
• Also known as incised or Intaglio.
• It is created by carving.
• Relief sculptures are created using the subtractive process of carving.

2. SCULPTURE IN-THE-ROUND
• Also known as Free standing Sculpture
• Sculpture that exists in a three-dimensional space that can be
viewed from all angles.
• Free standing works. You can walk around it.

• Sculptures in-the-round or free standing sculptures can be created using both
the additive (modeling, casting) and subtractive processes (carving).
Carving Modeling Casting

3. ASSEMBLAGE
• A ‘modern’ type of Sculpture.
• An Assemblage sculpture is the assembling or putting together of found
objects to create a work of art.
• The objects are either related or unrelated to each other.
• Referred to as a three-dimensional collage.
• Assemblages are created by gluing,
soldering, welding, pasting, riveting, nailing
etc.
• Assemblages are created using the Additive
method of Constructing.

4. KINETIC / MOBILE SCULPTURE
• Is a free-standing Sculpture that moves.
• The movement is by mechanical power or by wind or water power.
• Best examples are those which are suspended on or in air.
• Mobiles are created using the Additive method of Constructing.

5. INSTALLATIONS
• A ‘modern’ type of Sculpture.
• Sculptures created using various materials that may be permanent and are
not confined to gallery spaces.
• Installations are sculptural artworks that transform an entire space into a work
of art.
• They are designed to fit into a
particular space.
• They interact with the public
environment as the viewer
needs to walk through the piece
to experience it.
• Installations are created using the Additive method of Constructing.

• https://webneel.com/daily/sites/default/files/images/daily/08-2020/14-sunken-relief-sculpture-
egypt-museum.jpg
• https://tieniepritchard.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/276.jpg
• https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-DsmISt1Y8M/maxresdefault.jpg
IMAGE COURTESIES

THE END