I bet you've noticed that almost every city has its own creative sculptures or statues, usually tucked along streets or city squares. Some of them are pretty ordinary, but others... Other famous sculptures can be extremely eye-catching and conversation-provoking.
The oldest known statuette, named Venus of Hohle Fels, dates back to around 33.000 - 38.000 BCE, and since then the sculpture art has changed in many ways. If this form of art was used to depict the surrounding world at first, then quickly it became a way to worship gods and later, as it turned to classical art era, to commemorate famous people. Now, modern sculptures might represent an idea and not an object or a living being at all, take odd shapes, and be made from absolutely any material imaginable.
To save you some trips across the world, Bored Panda has put together a list of the most creative sculptures and famous statues found throughout the globe. Some are old, some are modern art pieces, but they're all super creative and awe-inspiring. Take a look below and don't forget to vote for your favorite works of art - either classical or created by modern sculptors.
Did we miss any? Post your pics in the comment section!
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Expansion By Paige Bradley, New York, Usa
Dramatic Fairy Sculpture Dancing With Dandelion By Robin Wight, Uk
Colossus, Florence, Italy
He is the god of the mountains, and is named Appennino. He was made in the 1500s by Italian sculptor Giambologna as a symbol of Italy’s rugged Appenine mountains.
Inner Children Trapped Inside Adult Bodies By Alexander Milov
The Force Of Nature By Lorenzo Quinn
Mustangs By Robert Glen, Las Colinas, Texas, Usa
Black Ghost, Klaipeda, Lithuania
The Caring Hand, Glarus, Switzerland
Break Through From Your Mold By Zenos Frudakis, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Usa
Reminds me of this one by my mother, Ursula Focke, in Goslar / Germany ... :) p1080764-5...3a8c7f.jpg
I love it - Break free from whatever is holding you back - feel the wind in your face! Beautiful!
I'm coming out from behind the blindness we all carry in our being, be free! Caress your happiness and show your love and joy!
There was an amazing performance art installation / theater piece called "Don't" by Audrey Grace that goes with this piece perfectly.
Mihai Eminescu, Onesti, Romania
The Rain Man By Jean-michel Folon, Italy
Diminish And Ascend By David Mccracken, Bondi, Australia
It's a optical illusion ^^ The stairs are just made smaller, like a thorn.
Popped Up By Ervin Loránth Hervé, Budapest, Hungary
Viccisitudes By Jason Decaires Taylor, Grenada, Vest Indies
Raindrop By Nazar Bilyk, Ukraine
Shadow Street Art, Kaunas, Lithuania
Sinking Building Outside State Library, Melbourne, Australia
Epic 1,320-ton God Of War Statue In China
Hippo Sculptures, Taipei, Taiwan
I would like to take my grandchildren to this sculpture. Of course they would love it.
The Shoes On The Danube Bank By Can Togay & Gyula Pauer, Budapest, Hungary
Les Voyageurs, Marseilles, France
The Monument Of An Anonymous Passerby, Wroclaw, Poland
Actually that is not the complete version.One can find more of them on the other side of the street. On that side the sculptures are slowly sinking into the ground, while they are coming from the ground in this one. For more pictures: https://gallivance.net/2013/12/05/wroclaws-anonymous-pedestrians-remembering-martial-law/
Ocean Atlas: Massive Underwater Statue Of Girl Carrying The Ocean On Her Shoulders
De Vaartkapoen, Brussels, Belgium
Nelson Mandela, South Africa
Nelson Mandela Sculpture by Marco Cianfanelli, just outside Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was here on 5 August 1962, that Nelson Mandela was finally captured by police and his "Long Walk to Freedom" began.
People Of The River By Chong Fah Cheong, Singapore
Kelpies, Grangemouth, Uk
The Knotted Gun, Turtle Bay, New York, Usa
Jaume Plensa Sculptures, Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Salmon Sculpture, Portland, Oregon, Usa
Out of all of the statues in Portland... You chose the big fish.
Man Hanging Out, Prague, Czech Republic
The Rising Tide By Jason Decaires Taylor, London
A Day Out, Adelaide, Australia
Not surprisingly little kids absolutely love these guys.
Magic Wire Mesh Sculpture By Pauline Ohrel, France
Cattle Drive, Dallas, Texas, Usa
Metalmorphosis By David Cherny At The Whitehall Technology Park, Charlotte, Nc
The Unknown Official, Reykjavik, Iceland
The Shark, Oxford, Uk
A Scene From The World War With Real-size Statues, Eceabat, Turkey
also very impressive covered with snow. http://mobil.hurriyet.com.tr/eceabatta-heykeller-kar-altinda-27873702
Man At Work, Bratislava, Slovakia
I have a picture next I this guy! Actually, they call him the lazy worker, I think, because he is just not doing what he is supposed to be doing!
Iguana Park, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
There is a real iguana park in Guayaquil, Ecuador. It's lovely to hang out with them.
Spider, Tate Modern, London, Uk
Zoggolopoulos' Umbrellas in Greece is also pretty neat. DSC09134-5...7de1b8.jpg
The little gnomes all over Wroclaw, Poland. The black cat house in riga, Latvia. The horses in the Thames in London.
Than you so much , all pic are very nice , Centro de negocios de MIramar , la Habana Cuba ( Bisness district ) miramar-el...ac8f3d.jpg
Wonderful. But I have found a photo of another sculpture, and don't know if it is real, but if it is, it is amazing, and am trying to find out where it is. Any clues? maxres-ope...c2932e.jpg
You missed some of the most beautiful artwork in the world all based in Reno NV that comes directly from Burning Man. Here's a link to just a few. https://www.visitrenotahoe.com/things-to-do/arts-and-culture/burning-man-art/?asset=2571-ig-18008207347122915
One statue from China, Turkey and South Africa. That's all you could include from Asia and Africa? Before people find my criticism wrong, let me say that almost all articles on BP are centered on America and Europe. If an article features 100 pictures, 95 would be American or European and you'd included 5 for token inclusiveness. It's a constant occurrence.
Looks like I have a lot more traveling to do so I can see more of these!
You missed The African Renaissance Monument in Senegal 🇸🇳! It’s amazing!
These are all brilliant - and to think there are many more equally as good, not shown. Human talent still exist I am glad to say.
Statue of Ki g Arthur at Tintagel, Cornwall, UK https://images.app.goo.gl/grAsS5bHoNEK8xAW8
Please include the Kelpies in Falkirk - http://www.thehelix.co.uk/things-to-do/the-kelpies/ The_Kelpie...b705ea.jpg
Thank you so much for sharing these, they are amazing. I'm ashamed to say I only knew of one of the three in my country, Australia
I'd say like the first half of these were inspiring, or conveyed some kind of powerful message, but some of them are just modern art sculptures, and not so thought provoking or inspiring.
Zoggolopoulos' Umbrellas in Greece is also pretty neat. DSC09134-5...7de1b8.jpg
The little gnomes all over Wroclaw, Poland. The black cat house in riga, Latvia. The horses in the Thames in London.
Than you so much , all pic are very nice , Centro de negocios de MIramar , la Habana Cuba ( Bisness district ) miramar-el...ac8f3d.jpg
Wonderful. But I have found a photo of another sculpture, and don't know if it is real, but if it is, it is amazing, and am trying to find out where it is. Any clues? maxres-ope...c2932e.jpg
You missed some of the most beautiful artwork in the world all based in Reno NV that comes directly from Burning Man. Here's a link to just a few. https://www.visitrenotahoe.com/things-to-do/arts-and-culture/burning-man-art/?asset=2571-ig-18008207347122915
One statue from China, Turkey and South Africa. That's all you could include from Asia and Africa? Before people find my criticism wrong, let me say that almost all articles on BP are centered on America and Europe. If an article features 100 pictures, 95 would be American or European and you'd included 5 for token inclusiveness. It's a constant occurrence.
Looks like I have a lot more traveling to do so I can see more of these!
You missed The African Renaissance Monument in Senegal 🇸🇳! It’s amazing!
These are all brilliant - and to think there are many more equally as good, not shown. Human talent still exist I am glad to say.
Statue of Ki g Arthur at Tintagel, Cornwall, UK https://images.app.goo.gl/grAsS5bHoNEK8xAW8
Please include the Kelpies in Falkirk - http://www.thehelix.co.uk/things-to-do/the-kelpies/ The_Kelpie...b705ea.jpg
Thank you so much for sharing these, they are amazing. I'm ashamed to say I only knew of one of the three in my country, Australia
I'd say like the first half of these were inspiring, or conveyed some kind of powerful message, but some of them are just modern art sculptures, and not so thought provoking or inspiring.