Believe Us, These Are The 20 Most Creative Sculptures You Will Ever See
To source inspiration for your art, many people will tell you to look to nature. As shown by the sculptures we’ve listed below, however, some artists have gone beyond using the environment as solely inspiration.
These pieces don’t just remind us of nature, they look like they belong in their respective environments.
1. Make way for the Dallas Cattle Drive Sculptures by Robert Summers.
The sculptures were meant to commemorate the cattle trail that existed along the Shawnee Trail.
This looks like a traffic jam of epic proportions.
2. A octopus plays chess in this sculpture by Leigh Dyer in George Street, Hastings.
Leigh Dyer is a sculptor who specializes in metal work. I think we can all agree that this particular octopus is not only smarter than me, it also looks cooler than I ever will.
The real question is: Does Leigh Dyer make metal armor so I can look cool, too?
3. 'The Alpine Ice Cycle' by Martin Hill and Philippa Jones in New Zealand is like a concept straight out of a Christopher Nolan film.
Martin Hill explains, “My materials come from the earth to which they return,” and the Alpine Cycle is a sculpture made of ice that melted to join the water on which it stands.
That’s like two levels of water-ception at the very least.
4. 'Expansion' by Paige Bradley in New York looks like me trying to be Zen.
Paige Bradley says, “I ponder if we are more defined by the container we are in, rather than what we are inside. Would we recognize ourselves if we could expand beyond our bodies? Would we still be able to exist if we were authentically 'un-contained?”
I never thought a statue would give me an existential crisis.
5. 'Coalesce' by Kate MccGwire looks like it’s made out of scales from one of Daenerys’ dragons.
Kate MccGwire painstakingly cleaned rooster feathers to create this beauty.
Meanwhile, I’m still painstakingly trying to understand what the sculpture is about.
6. “Anybody there?” asks 'The Black Ghost' in Lithuania.
The silhouette of a ghost is seen emerging out of the water where a castle used to stand. Legend has it that a ghost like this one appeared to a castle guard, warning him that the city’s supplies were running out.
7. Appearing from beneath a square in Budapest is 'Feltepve' by Ervin Herve-Loranth.
This piece is meant to symbolize the desire to break free. I think it’s saying, “I get it, I get it! I swear, I’ll have the rent money to you tomorrow.”
8. This romantic-natural hybrid is named ‘I Give You My Heart’ by Angela Lergo.
Last Christmas, I gave you this sculpture — but the very next day, you gave it away!
9. Hippo sculptures can be found swimming around the Taipei Zoo.
Hippos and I have a lot in common. We’re both large, we love eating and we just lounge about most of the time.
Oh, and we get really aggressive once in awhile.
10. The galloping 'Mustangs of Las Colinas' by Robert Glen is like a scene lifted from a classic Western film.
I mean, just look at them. It’s as if these horses are perpetually running young, wild and free.
11. The celestial ‘Desert Breath’ by Danae Stratou, Alexandra Stratou and Stella Constantinides.
I'm not sure what to believe: the artists or my brain screaming, "ALIENS"!
12. 'Mihau Eminescu' sculpture by Vasile Gorduz took fandom to a whole new level.
Mihai Eminescu was a Romantic poet and novelist, and this sculpture was made to honor him and his contribution to Romanian art.
13. This 'Freedom' sculpture by Zenos Frudakis just makes me want to sing my heart out to Queen.
“I want to break free./ I want to break free from your lies.”
14. 'The Monument Of An Anonymous Passerby' in Wroclaw, Poland displays a history most countries can relate to.
The installation honors the people who were lost during the Communist regime in Poland many years ago. The sculptures were unveiled during the 24th anniversary of Polish martial law, a time when the police took people to prison in secret.
Even without knowing what it’s about, this installation feels heavy to look at.
15. Jump right in with the ‘People Of The River’ by Chong Fah Cheong.
The sculpture is part of a series that shows the life of the people who were living and working by the Singapore river.
What’s worse: Being frozen in last place or mid-jump?
16. If someone made me a sculpture like 'Northumberlandia, The Lady of Cramlington' by Charles Jencks, I’d marry them immediately.
The Lady of Cramlington, or also known as The Lady of the North is the largest landform sculpture in the world. You go through woodland first before getting your first view of the the lady.
I imagine it almost feels like going through the better part of Southern Westeros before finally arriving at Winterfell’s doorstep.
17. 'Maman' by Louise Bourgeois at London’s Tate Modern is straight out of a scene from War of the World’s.
The artist, Louise Bourgeois, created the spider to symbolise the strength of her mother using the metaphors of spinning, weaving, nurturing and protecting.
Let me tell you, if my mother was like this (both figuratively and literally), I’d feel protected too.
18. The stumbling policeman in ‘De Vaartkapoen’ by Tom Frantzen.
Frantzen wanted to use a unique form of humor typical to Brussels by mixing absurdity and surrealism. The artist wanted it in the streets where surrounding elements like manholes and lampposts can be incorporated with his art.
The sculpture you see on the picture is a rebel toppling a policeman, as if he's saying “I don’t care if you think you have authority, tbh.”
That guy is the real OG.
19. Meet every woodland elf’s friend, ‘Douglas,’ by Tommy Craggs.
Before you go report this to the Ents in Middle-Earth, the trees used by Craggs have either fallen naturally or become diseased.
There’s no need to call on Treebeard — give him a break.
20. Cumil is ‘The Man at Work’ created by Viktor Hulik.
Viktor Hulik created Cumil as a symbol of the reconstructed city of Korzo. Here, it seems like he is just resting and watching people walk by after cleaning the sewers.
But you know what this reminds me of? The Underminer!
“Behold, the Underminer! I'm always beneath you, but nothing is beneath me!”
Get it? From The Incre-- you know what, never mind.
All in all, if I was half as talented as the sculptors who created these monuments, I’d never stop making art.