An instant way to make a decor statement is to add a striking work of art. This will get people talking and will also show that you appreciate the finer things in life. These days, African sculptures are very popular.
For thousands of years, Africans have been sculpting. There is as much variety in style as there is in cultures on the continent. Human figures are common and are usually depicted in an abstract style that has influenced modern artists, including Pablo Picasso. Spiritual themes are popular too and you will also find pieces that are very realistic, often depicting animals like giraffes or elephants.
Most sculptors in Africa work in wood. After all, wood is abundant, easy to carve and often free. Many artists choose only to polish the wood when the sculpture is complete, letting the material's natural colors and textures shine through. However, you may also find pieces that are painted in bright colors.
Clay is another common medium to use but many African sculptors also work in more durable stone. Soapstone is particularly popular, since it is relatively soft and comes in a variety of colors, including black, cream, gray, yellow, lavender and red. Serious sculptors sometimes prefer harder types of stone such as serpentine, marble or granite.
Throughout history, artists have been creating small carvings from animal bones or tusks. In Africa, elephant tusks provided a much larger base to work from and for several centuries, intricately carved ivory was a major export for African communities. These days you may have to opt for antique carvings, though, since there are now strict laws that regulate the sale of ivory.
Something that is not widely known is that African sculptors have been working in metal since the Middle Ages. The great civilizations of Mapungubwe, the Niger Delta and Benin left behind beautiful cast-metal art in gold, bronze and copper, for instance. More recently, artists have also started working in steel, often welding the pieces rather than casting the metal into molds. Among the renowned contemporary sculptors who work in steel are the South Africans Edoardo Villa and Giovanni Schoeman and the Nigerian Sokari Douglas Camp.
Today's artists throughout the continent often create stunning pieces from recycled materials. Bits of wire and bottle tops or plastic beads are transformed into the figures of people, animals and birds, cars or airplanes or even transistor radios that actually work. Some sculptors such as Ethiopia's Elias Sime, Uganda's Patrick Mulondo, Cameroon's Pascale Marthine Tayou and Ghana's El Anatsui have become world renowned for their art from recycled materials but you will also find thousands of unknown artists who sell their pieces on sidewalks or at flea markets.
Buying art by an acclaimed African sculptor can be a sound financial investment. You will find investment pieces at art auctions or in galleries in many world cities, including those of Europe and the United States. However, you can also find inexpensive pieces at any African street market if you simply want art for the enjoyment of it.
For thousands of years, Africans have been sculpting. There is as much variety in style as there is in cultures on the continent. Human figures are common and are usually depicted in an abstract style that has influenced modern artists, including Pablo Picasso. Spiritual themes are popular too and you will also find pieces that are very realistic, often depicting animals like giraffes or elephants.
Most sculptors in Africa work in wood. After all, wood is abundant, easy to carve and often free. Many artists choose only to polish the wood when the sculpture is complete, letting the material's natural colors and textures shine through. However, you may also find pieces that are painted in bright colors.
Clay is another common medium to use but many African sculptors also work in more durable stone. Soapstone is particularly popular, since it is relatively soft and comes in a variety of colors, including black, cream, gray, yellow, lavender and red. Serious sculptors sometimes prefer harder types of stone such as serpentine, marble or granite.
Throughout history, artists have been creating small carvings from animal bones or tusks. In Africa, elephant tusks provided a much larger base to work from and for several centuries, intricately carved ivory was a major export for African communities. These days you may have to opt for antique carvings, though, since there are now strict laws that regulate the sale of ivory.
Something that is not widely known is that African sculptors have been working in metal since the Middle Ages. The great civilizations of Mapungubwe, the Niger Delta and Benin left behind beautiful cast-metal art in gold, bronze and copper, for instance. More recently, artists have also started working in steel, often welding the pieces rather than casting the metal into molds. Among the renowned contemporary sculptors who work in steel are the South Africans Edoardo Villa and Giovanni Schoeman and the Nigerian Sokari Douglas Camp.
Today's artists throughout the continent often create stunning pieces from recycled materials. Bits of wire and bottle tops or plastic beads are transformed into the figures of people, animals and birds, cars or airplanes or even transistor radios that actually work. Some sculptors such as Ethiopia's Elias Sime, Uganda's Patrick Mulondo, Cameroon's Pascale Marthine Tayou and Ghana's El Anatsui have become world renowned for their art from recycled materials but you will also find thousands of unknown artists who sell their pieces on sidewalks or at flea markets.
Buying art by an acclaimed African sculptor can be a sound financial investment. You will find investment pieces at art auctions or in galleries in many world cities, including those of Europe and the United States. However, you can also find inexpensive pieces at any African street market if you simply want art for the enjoyment of it.
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Buy African sculptures via the Internet right now. Visit our online store to view our selection of sculptures at http://africanartgalleryenu.com today.
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