Modern sculpture is bold and usually controversial. It is especially true of metal sculptures created in the 20th Century. The most iconic metal sculptures invite a reaction from the public. The artists who created these works do so with a purpose, asking questions about their surroundings and the inequalities they see, or simply for the sake of expression.
Besides their imagination, artists need to be armed with the correct tools to create their artwork. They also need accessories and equipment are for cleaning welder brushes to continue to use them without trouble.
Regardless of how small or large a metal sculpture is, it sometimes takes the artists months or even years to complete. Here are some of today’s modern masterpieces.
Jeff Koons’s Balloon Dog
Made of steel and brightly colored, The Balloon Dog comes in several versions (Orange, Blue, Red, Magenta, and Yellow). Koons’ pieces have been sold at auctions and have fetched at a world record price for a living artist. Koons has made several sculptures with different themes, all using shiny stainless steel and transparent paint and creating the illusion of a soft and light sculpture.
Alexander Calder’s Flamingo
Alexander Calder is more famous for his large floating mobiles, but the Flamingo is an iconic metal sculpture as heavy as it looks. The red sculpture is located in front of the Seagram Building on Park Avenue in New York City. The Flamingo was created almost 40 years after Calder’s first metal sculptures, but it remains popular and is a testament to his skill as an artist.
Anthony Gormley’s Angel of the North
The Angel of the North is a massive structure standing on top of the hill in the countryside. The metallic frame is seventy feet tall, making it the tallest sculpture in England. It is located at Gateshead, Tyne, and Wear. It can be seen from the highway and by train. There is a footpath where visitors can walk around the sculpture. It is a tribute to the strength found in humans and was created by Anthony Gormley.
Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate
Also called the Bean, the Cloud Gate looks like a giant blog of liquid mercury. It was erected in Chicago’s Millennium Park in 2006, stood 110 feet tall, and weighs 110 tons. The Bean has become a landmark and is Chicago’s most popular tourist attraction. Visitors often stand on the metal sculpture, giving it an even more liquid-like appearance.
Louise Bourgeois’s Maman
Maman is a giant metal sculpture carrying its eggs in a sac. It stands by Manhattan’s Museum of Modern Art and is often referenced as one of the most famous modern metal sculptures. It was created in 1999 and meant to be a tribute to women. Due to its size can only be displayed outdoors or in an ample space with a high ceiling. The Maman is on permanent display at the Ottawa National Gallery in Canada; Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, Japan; Qatar National Convention Centre; Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia; Samsung Museum of Art in Leeum, South Korea; Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain; Tate Museum, London, United Kingdom; Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas; Pappajohn Sculpture Park, Des Moines, Iowa; Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City.
Henry Moore’s Reclining Woman
Henry Moore’s sculptures are amorphous masses representing the human figure. The Reclining Woman is one of his most famous works and stands outside the Henry Moore Foundation in Hertfordshire, England. It is made out of bronze and weighs 12 tons.
Chicago Picasso
Chicago commissioned a sculpture by Pablo Picasso, and he created the Chicago Picasso in 1967. This giant, abstract and colorful sculpture is located outside of Daley Plaza. It has become a city symbol and was one of the first metal sculptures displayed as art in large urban centers. Instead of accepting the payment for the artwork, Picasso presented it as a gift to Chicago.
Richard Serra’s A Matter of Time
A Matter of Time is a large metal art installation at the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum. It consists of fabricated steel curves, and visitors are encouraged to explore the spaces between the metal pieces. The art piece is meant to act as a bridge between the visitors and the building. It is one of two installations by Serra inside the museum.
Metal sculptures can be as small as a brooch and so large that they can only be installed outdoors or in a hangar. On the other hand, there are even more significant metal sculptures, like the Statue of Liberty.
Contemporary art has developed abstract pieces that the public has come to appreciate. You may not be able to afford a massive sculpture, but if you’re looking for a unique piece of art to hang on your wall or display outside, metal sculptures may be perfect for you.
