Sculpture is the art of shaping figures or designs in the round or in relief, and can be accomplished by modeling and firing clay (as humans have done from prehistoric times), chiselling marble or other stone (such as by the ancient Greeks and Romans), or by casting in metals, such as bronze (practiced by almost all people of the world since the Greeks). Public sculpture is sculpture that is intended to be displayed in a public place, either outside in a courtyard, atrium or garden, or inside within a publicly-accessible building.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Generally either commissioned by governments, civic groups, or civically-minded individuals or corporations to commemorate famous heroes and people, battles, events, or ideals such as freedom and liberty, monuments, memorials, and civic statuary are decidedly the oldest form of official public art. As such, public sculpture has a long and illustrious relationship with humanity, telling our story in a way that words may have difficulty conveying.

 

Examples of commemorative public sculpture include famous pieces such as the Parthenon in Greece; remembered as not only being a building and temple, but also a work of art that spanned the ages, and a reflection of the culture and knowledge of the Greek people. Some works, such as the relatively modern Statue of Liberty (actually named Liberty Enlightening the World, or la Liberté éclairant le monde in the original French), symbolize a great friendship, shared goals, and the gift of freedom. Still others, such as the large bronze statue of R.L. Boyle in Regina, Alberta’s Central Memorial Park, act as a cenotaph and memorial for not only the subject, but for all those Canadians who died in the Boer war. Still others, like Jeté, a modern (1975) bronze in Millbank, Westminster, England, exist as true art, pieces that made for the sake of beauty.

 

Sculpture intended as public art is often constructed of durable, easily cared-for material, to avoid the worst effects of the elements. This leads most public sculptors to choose either metals (such as bronze) or hard stones (such as granite), as these materials are both visually appealing and well aging; bronze in particular develops a beautiful patina as it is exposed to both sunlight and rain, and lends itself not only to firm, clearly delineated abstract shapes, but also to the depth required to portray still-life forms.

 

 

 

Artists such as Brett Davis who is an acclaimed bronze artist located in Canada have created public custom bronze artworks for clients all over the world. From personal projects to organization commissions, Brett Davis is able to take on virtually any task, making it easier for you to materialize your dreams and visions through a work of art. Please visit his website for more information on his bronze artworks.