Famous American Sculptors

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 1 
Alexander Calder
(Sculptor, Painter)
Alexander Calder
7
Birthdate: July 22, 1898
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Lawnton
Died: November 11, 1976

Alexander Calder was an American sculptor best remembered for his innovative kinetic sculptures designed to use either motor, air currents, or other forces of nature. A multi-talented personality, Calder was also known for his paintings, miniatures, prints, jewelry design, theater set design, political posters, and tapestries and rugs. In 1977, he was honored with the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom.

 2 
Leslie Stefanson
(Actress, Model, Artist, Sculptor)
Leslie Stefanson
9
Birthdate: May 10, 1971
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Fargo, Cass County, North Dakota

Leslie Stefanson is an American model, artist, and actress. She achieved popularity after playing important roles in popular films, such as The General's Daughter. A multi-talented personality, Leslie Stefanson also makes terracotta and bronze sculptures in New York City and Los Angeles.

 3 
Edmonia Lewis
(First African-American and Native American Sculptor to Achieve International Prominence)
Edmonia Lewis
7
Birthdate: July 4, 1844
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Rensselaer County, New York, United States
Died: September 17, 1907

Edmonia Lewis was an American sculptor who worked in Rome for most of her career. The first African-American sculptor to gain international prominence, Lewis was also the only Black female artist to have participated and recognized by the American artistic mainstream until the end of the 19th century. Molefi Kete Asante included Lewis in his 100 Greatest African Americans list.

 4 
Louise Bourgeois
(Artist Best Known for Her Large-Scale Sculpture and Installation Art)
Louise Bourgeois
7
Birthdate: December 25, 1911
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: May 31, 2010

Louise Bourgeois was a French-American artist best remembered for her large-scale installation art and sculpture. Also a prolific printmaker and painter, Bourgeois explored a variety of themes, such as sexuality and death. In 1997, she was awarded the National Medal of Arts. In 2009, she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.

 5 
Jasper Johns
(Painter, Sculptor, Costume designer)
Jasper Johns
6
Birthdate: May 15, 1930
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Augusta

Presidential Medal-winning artist Jasper Johns is best known for his contribution to the pop art movement. His paintings revolve around subjects such as flags, numbers, and letters, whereas he has also gained fame for his cast sculpture art such as Painted Bronze. He also once experimented by attaching strings to his art.

 6 
Isamu Noguchi
(American Landscape Architect and Artist Who Designed the Modern Piece of Furniture Known as the 'Noguchi Table')
Isamu Noguchi
5
Birthdate: November 17, 1904
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Died: December 30, 1988

Isamu Noguchi was an American landscape architect and artist best remembered for designing the iconic Noguchi table. His sculptures are credited with bridging East and West and some of his works are considered landmarks of 20th-century art. In 1982, he won the Edward MacDowell Medal. In 1987, he received the National Medal of Arts for his contribution to the arts. 

 7 
Donald Judd
(American Artist, Architect and Sculptor)
Donald Judd
6
Birthdate: June 3, 1928
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Excelsior Springs, Missouri, United States
Died: February 12, 1994

Donald Judd was an American artist widely regarded as one of the most prominent international exponents of minimalism. He is credited with founding a contemporary art museum named Chinati Foundation which houses the collection of popular artists like Carl Andre, Ilya Kabakov, Richard Long, and John Wesley. Judd also contributed as a teacher at many academic institutions in the USA.

 8 
Richard Serra
(American Sculptor and Painter)
Richard Serra
6
Birthdate: November 2, 1938
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States

Richard Serra is an American artist renowned for his large-scale sculptures that are designed for site-specific landscape, architectural, and urban settings. Many of his works are displayed in several museums, including The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and Musée National d’Art Moderne in Paris. Serra is the recipient of several prestigious awards like The National Arts Award.

 9 
Claes Oldenburg
(Artist, Sculptor, Painter, Graphic artist)
Claes Oldenburg
5
Birthdate: January 28, 1929
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Stockholm

Claes Oldenburg is a Swedish-American sculptor recognized for his public art installations. Many of his artworks, which were co-designed by his wife Coosje van Bruggen until 2009, feature everyday objects. One of the most celebrated sculptors of his generation, Claes Oldenburg has been honored with many prestigious awards like the National Medal of Arts and the Wolf Prize in Arts.  

 10 
Frederic Remington
(Sculptor, Writer, Painter)
Frederic Remington
5
Birthdate: October 4, 1861
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: New York
Died: December 26, 1909

Frederic Remington was an American sculptor, painter, illustrator, and writer. Best remembered for his depictions of the Western United States, Remington is a member of several cowboy halls of fame, including the Texas Trail Hall of Fame. Frederic Remington was regarded as one of the most successful and popular Western illustrators during the late 19th century and early 20th century.

 11 
Jenny Holzer
(Artist, Painter, Sculptor)
Jenny Holzer
5
Birthdate: July 29, 1950
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Gallipolis

Jenny Holzer is an American artist best known for her association with neo-conceptual art. Her work focuses on conveying ideas and messages in public spaces with the help of large-scale installations, illuminated electronic displays, projections on buildings, and advertising billboards. Over the course of her career, Holzer has received several awards like the Golden Lion at the 1990 Venice Biennale.

 12 
Niki de Saint Phalle
(French-American Sculptor, Painter and Filmmaker)
Niki de Saint Phalle
6
Birthdate: October 29, 1930
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
Died: May 21, 2002

Niki de Saint Phalle was a French-American painter, sculptor, and filmmaker. She gained prominence as a monumental sculptor as not many women were renowned for their skills as monumental sculptors. Also remembered for her social work, Niki was one of the earliest artists to spread awareness about AIDS through art. She also wrote extensively in English and French.

 13 
Frank Stella
(Painter, Sculptor)
Frank Stella
6
Birthdate: May 12, 1936
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Malden

Frank Stella is an American sculptor, painter, and printmaker known for his work in the fields of post-painterly abstraction and minimalism. An influential artist, Stella has been an ardent supporter of copyright protection for artists. In 2009, he was honored with the prestigious National Medal of Arts. In 2011, the International Sculpture Center honored Stella with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

 14 
Jeff Koons
(Sculptor, Painter)
Jeff Koons
7
Birthdate: January 21, 1955
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: York

Jeff Koons is an American artist best known for his versatility and work that deals with popular culture. Koons is also known for his sculptures, such as large balloon animals made using stainless steel to achieve mirror-finish surfaces. One of the most successful artists of his generation, Koons has produced works that have earned a couple of record auction prices.

 15 
Barnett Newman
(Painter, Sculptor, Visual artist, Architect)
Barnett Newman
6
Birthdate: January 29, 1905
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: New York City
Died: July 4, 1970

Barnett Newman was an American artist widely regarded as one of the most prominent figures in abstract expressionism. Although his work was unappreciated for much of his life, it served as a major influence on several younger artists like Bob Law, Frank Stella, and Donald Judd.

 16 
Charles Marion Russell
(Sculptor, Illustrator, Painter, Writer)
Charles Marion Russell
4
Birthdate: March 19, 1864
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: St. Louis
Died: October 24, 1926

Charles Marion Russell was an American artist best remembered for depicting the American Old West. Dubbed the cowboy artist, Russell produced over 2,000 paintings featuring Native Americans, landscapes of the western United States, and cowboys. In 1955, Charles Marion Russell was made a member of the Hall of Great Westerners.

 17 
Daniel Chester French
(Sculptor)
Daniel Chester French
4
Birthdate: April 20, 1850
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Exeter
Died: October 7, 1931

Daniel Chester French was an American sculptor best remembered for designing the iconic monumental statue of Abraham Lincoln in Washington, D.C. He is also credited with designing the Pulitzer Prize gold medal along with H. Augustus Lukeman in 1917. Daniel Chester French also founded or co-founded many organizations like the National Sculpture Society (NSS) and the American Academy in Rome.

 18 
Beatrice Wood
(American Artist and Studio Potter)
Beatrice Wood
4
Birthdate: March 3, 1893
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States
Died: March 12, 1998

Beatrice Wood was an American studio potter and artist best remembered for her association with the Avant-Garde movement. Wood is credited with founding Rongwrong and The Blind Man magazines along with Henri-Pierre Roché and Marcel Duchamp. Beatrice Wood's autobiography inspired the creation of Rose DeWitt Bukater's character in the 1997 epic romance and disaster film Titanic

 19 
Don Gummer
(Sculptor)
Don Gummer
6
Birthdate: December 12, 1946
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Don Gummer, husband of actor Meryl Streep, is a talented sculptor who is known for his free-standing sculptures in bronze. He initially focused on wall-mounted and table-top pieces. An avid philanthropist, he has donated to various charitable organizations such as the Silver Mountain Arts Foundation, along with Meryl.
 20 
Ana Mendieta
(Cuban-American Performance Artist, Sculptor, Painter and Video Artist)
Ana Mendieta
5
Birthdate: November 18, 1948
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Havana, Cuba
Died: September 8, 1985
 21 
Robert Indiana
(Costume designer, Painter, Sculptor, Postage stamp designer)
Robert Indiana
4
Birthdate: September 13, 1928
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: New Castle

Robert Indiana was an American artist best remembered for his association with the pop art movement. He is credited with creating the popular Love sculpture. The sculpture, which is situated at the Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA), was the basis for the 1973 US Postal Service LOVE stamp. Indiana's works are preserved in numerous museums, including the McNay Art Museum.  

 22 
Ellsworth Kelly
(Sculptor, Painter, Artist)
Ellsworth Kelly
4
Birthdate: May 31, 1923
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Newburgh (city), New York
Died: December 27, 2015

Ellsworth Kelly was an American sculptor, painter, and printmaker best remembered for his association with Color Field painting, hard-edge painting, and minimalism. Over the course of his illustrious career, Kelly was honored with several prestigious awards, such as the National Medal of Arts and Edward MacDowell Medal.

 23 
Gutzon Borglum
(American Sculptor Best Known for His Colossal Mount Rushmore Sculpture of the Faces of Four U.S. Presidents)
Gutzon Borglum
6
Birthdate: March 25, 1867
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Saint Charles, Idaho, United States
Died: March 6, 1941

Gutzon Borglum was an American sculptor remembered for his work on Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Borglum is also associated with other important public works of art like Georgia's Stone Mountain and a bust of Abraham Lincoln, which is currently preserved in the US Capitol crypt.

 24 
Chris Burden
(American Artist Who Became Known in the 1970s for His Performance Art Works)
Chris Burden
4
Birthdate: April 11, 1946
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Died: May 10, 2015
 25 
Augustus Saint-Gaudens
(Sculptor)
Augustus Saint-Gaudens
4
Birthdate: March 1, 1848
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Dublin
Died: August 3, 1907

Augustus Saint-Gaudens was a sculptor who achieved popularity for his monuments celebrating heroes of the Civil War. Some of his well-known monuments include the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial, General John Logan Memorial, and Abraham Lincoln: The Man. He is also credited with designing the Saint Gaudens Double Eagle, which is regarded as one of the most beautiful coins ever issued.

 26 
Emilie Benes Brzezinski
(artist, sculptor)
Emilie Benes Brzezinski
4
Birthdate: 1932 AD
Birthplace: Geneva

Emilie Benes Brzezinski is a Swiss American sculptor best known for her sculptures made out of wood. Her monumental work Lintel, which was made from cut cherry trees, is currently preserved in a sculpture park named Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton, New Jersey. Over the years, Emilie Benes has displayed her work at several art exhibitions, including the Florence Biennale.

 27 
Louise Nevelson
(Sculptor, Painter)
Louise Nevelson
5
Birthdate: September 23, 1899
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi
Died: April 17, 1988

Louise Nevelson was an American sculptor best remembered for her monochromatic outdoor sculptures and wooden wall pieces. Although she was not a feminist, Nevelson's work played a major role in the development of the feminist art movement in the United States. Louise Nevelson is widely regarded as one of the 20th-century's most prominent American sculptors.

 28 
Dorothea Tanning
(American Surrealist Artist)
Dorothea Tanning
4
Birthdate: August 25, 1910
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Galesburg, Illinois, United States
Died: January 31, 2012

Remembered for her surrealist paintings, sculptor and painter Dorothea Margaret Tanning seemed to have recreated her visions and dreams through her art. Most of her works showcase unreal situations, with motifs such as gigantic flowers and doors. Her iconic installation Hôtel du Pavot, Chambre 202 showcases her sculpting skills.

 29 
Ginger Gilmour
(American Artist, Sculptor and Author)
Ginger Gilmour
5
Birthdate: January 19, 1949
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Ginger Gilmour is an American sculptor, author, artist, and former model. Best known for her work featuring angels, Gilmour has had her work exhibited in several venues and galleries, including Arundel Castle, Mall Galleries, London, and the Embassy of Germany in London. Apart from being an artist, Gilmour also teaches art and Mental Color Healing, a form of esoteric healing.   

 30 
Félix González-Torres
(American Visual Artist Known for His Quiet, Minimal Installations and Sculptures)
Félix González-Torres
4
Birthdate: November 26, 1957
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Guáimaro, Cuba
Died: January 9, 1996

Félix González-Torres was an American visual artist best remembered for his sculptures and minimal installations made out of everyday objects like lightbulbs, stacks of paper, clocks, and packaged hard candies. In 2010, his 1992 piece Untitled sold for $4.6 million at an auction. Félix González-Torres died at the age of 38 due to complications from AIDS.

 31 
Sol Lewitt
(American Artist Known for His Wall Drawings in the 1960s)
Sol Lewitt
5
Birthdate: September 9, 1928
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Died: April 8, 2007

Sol Lewitt was an American artist best remembered for his association with various movements, including minimalism and conceptual art. LeWitt was also prolific in drawing, printmaking, installation, photography, and painting. Since 1965, Lewitt has been the subject of several solo exhibitions in galleries and museums around the world. His life inspired a biography titled Sol LeWitt: A Life of Ideas.

 32 
Kerry James Marshall
(American Artist and Professor, Known for His Paintings of Black Figures)
Kerry James Marshall
4
Birthdate: October 17, 1955
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Kerry James Marshall is an American professor and artist renowned for his artworks and paintings of Black figures. His work has inspired and influenced contemporary artists like Hank Willis Thomas. In 2017, he was mentioned in Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people. Marshall has also taught at prestigious institutions like the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC).

 33 
Luis Jiménez
(Artist)
Luis Jiménez
4
Birthdate: July 30, 1940
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: El Paso, Texas, United States
Died: June 13, 2006

Luis Jiménez was an American sculptor best remembered for depicting Hispanic-American themes through his works, which have been exhibited at the Denver International Airport as well as the Smithsonian. In addition to being a sculptor, Jiménez has also taught art at institutions like the University of Houston and the University of Arizona.

 34 
Augusta Savage
(Sculptor)
Augusta Savage
4
Birthdate: February 29, 1892
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Green Cove Springs
Died: March 26, 1962

Augusta Savage was an American sculptor best remembered for her association with the Harlem Renaissance. Savage also worked as a teacher and her studio served as an important tool to the development of the careers of several artists who went on to achieve national prominence. In 2008, Augusta Savage was inducted into the Florida Artist Hall of Fame. 

 35 
Jim Dine
(American Artist Whose œUvre Extends Over Sixty Years)
Jim Dine
3
Birthdate: June 16, 1935
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio, United States

Jim Dine is an American artist who focuses on painting, printmaking, drawing, photography, and sculpting. Throughout his career, Dine has been linked with many art movements, including Neo-Dada, Pop Art, and Abstract Expressionism. Over the years, Jim Dine’s work has been displayed in various museums like the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).

 36 
Bruce Nauman
(Sculptor, Painter)
Bruce Nauman
4
Birthdate: December 6, 1941
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Fort Wayne

Bruce Nauman is an American artist whose work involves sculpting, printmaking, drawing, and photography. In 1993, he was honored with the Wolf Prize for his contribution to 20th-century art and his work as a sculptor. He has also received other prestigious awards like the Wexner Prize. In 2004, he was named in Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people.

 37 
Ruth Asawa
(American Modernist Sculptor Known for Her Abstract Wire Sculptures)
Ruth Asawa
5
Birthdate: January 24, 1926
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Norwalk, California, United States
Died: August 5, 2013

Ruth Asawa was an American sculptor best remembered for her wire sculptures, some of which are preserved in the tower of the M. H. de Young Memorial Museum in San Francisco, California. An arts education advocate, Asawa played an important role in the establishment of the San Francisco School of the Arts.

 38 
Carl Andre
(American Painter, Sculptor and Artist)
Carl Andre
4
Birthdate: September 16, 1935
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Quincy, Massachusetts, United States

Carl Andre is an American artist best known for his association with Minimalism. Renowned for his grid format and ordered linear sculptures, Andre has exhibited his work in several museums and sculpture gardens, including the Kröller-Müller Museum in the Netherlands.

 39 
Elizabeth Catlett
(Best known for her depictions of the Black-American experience in the 20th century)
Elizabeth Catlett
4
Birthdate: April 15, 1915
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Washington, D.C., United States
Died: April 2, 2012
 40 
Edward Tufte
(Statistician Known for His Writings on Information Design and as a Pioneer in the Field of Data Visualization)
Edward Tufte
5
Birthdate: March 14, 1942
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Kansas City, Missouri, United States

Edward Tufte is an American statistician best known for his pioneering work in the area of data visualization. He also serves as a professor emeritus of computer science, statistics, and political science at Yale University.

 41 
Cécilia Rodhe
(Sculptor, Model)
Cécilia Rodhe
4
Birthdate: September 1, 1961
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Gothenburg, Sweden

Cécilia Rodhe is a Swedish sculptor and former model who lives and works in Brooklyn, New York, USA. She achieved popularity in 1978 when she won the Miss Sweden pageant. She went on to compete in the Miss Universe pageant the same year where she finished fifth.

 42 
Sarah Sze
(Sculptor)
Sarah Sze
4
Birthdate: 1969 AD
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, US

Sarah Sze is an American contemporary artist best known for her installation works and sculptures. She uses everyday materials to explore the role of technology in contemporary life for which she has received several awards like the Louise Blouin Foundation Award and Louis Comfort Tiffany Award. Apart from being an artist, Sarah also works as a professor at Columbia University.

 43 
Ivan Meštrović
3
Birthdate: August 15, 1883
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Vrpolje
Died: January 15, 1962

Ivan Meštrović was a Croatian architect, sculptor, and writer. Counted among the most important Croatian sculptors of the modern era, Ivan Meštrović is sometimes credited with taking Croatian arts to the world stage. He also had a strong artistic influence on Serbia where many streets are named in his honor.

 44 
Dan Flavin
(Minimalist Artist Famous for Creating Sculptural Objects & Installations from Fluorescent Light Fixtures)
Dan Flavin
5
Birthdate: April 1, 1933
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Jamaica, New York, United States
Died: November 29, 1996
American minimalist artist, Dan Flavin was a leading exponent of Minimalist art and his works offered formal and conceptual investigation of space and light. He was famous for creating sculptural objects and installations by arranging commercial fluorescent bulbs into differing geometric compositions. Today, his works are displayed in the Art Institute of Chicago, Dia: Beacon in New York, among others.
 45 
Korczak Ziolkowski
(Designer)
Korczak Ziolkowski
3
Birthdate: September 6, 1908
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Died: October 20, 1982
 46 
Arman
(American Artist and Painter Best Known for His Accumulations and Destruction/Recomposition of Objects)
Arman
3
Birthdate: November 17, 1928
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Nice, France
Died: October 22, 2005

French-born American artist Armand Fernandez, better known as Arman, was initially inspired by Dadaism, while he later created a niche form of art, which consisted of collections of objects, such as axes or guitars. He had also mastered judo and had appeared in an Andy Warhol film.

 47 
Michael Heizer
(Artist, Painter)
Michael Heizer
3
Birthdate: November 4, 1944
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Berkeley
 48 
David Smith
(Sculptor)
David Smith
3
Birthdate: March 9, 1906
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Decatur, Indiana, United States
Died: May 23, 1965

Abstract expressionist sculptor David Smith is best known for his pioneering work with welded metal sculpture. He was also fascinated with paintings of huge geometric forms. A great influence on the minimal art movement, he produced masterpieces such as the Zig, Albany, and Cubi series of sculptures.

 49 
Herbert Bayer
(American Graphic Designer, Painter, Photographer, Sculptor and Art Director)
Herbert Bayer
3
Birthdate: April 5, 1900
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Haag am Hausruck, Austria
Died: September 30, 1985

An artistic polymath, Herbert Bayer was a graphic designer, painter, photographer, sculptor, art director, environmental and interior designer, and architect, known for advocating integration of all art forms. Born in Austria and educated at Bauhaus, he migrated to the USA after a successful stint in Europe and as ARCO's Art and Design Consultant built up the company’s vast art collection.

 50 
Anna Hyatt Huntington
(Sculptor)
Anna Hyatt Huntington
3
Birthdate: March 10, 1876
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Died: October 4, 1973