Few things can add style to a room quite like an interesting piece of art. A colorful painting or striking statue not only provides a visual focal point to your decor but is also a great conversation starter. If you are looking to invest in art that will surely give your guests something to talk about, you can't go wrong with African sculptures.
Africans have been creating sculptures for millennia. The variety of styles reflects the variety of cultures that call this continent home. Some pieces are realistic-looking animals, from elephants and hippos to giraffes and antelope. Others are deeply spiritual. Depictions of people can be true to life or they can be abstract, in a style that greatly influenced Western artists like Pablo Picasso.
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.
Another inexpensive and therefore popular medium is clay. However, stone is much more durable and some artists invest in quality, hard stone such as serpentine or granite. One type of stone that is commonly used is soapstone, which is quite soft and easily carved. Another advantage of soapstone is that it is available in a range of colors, including cream, lavender, yellow, red and black.
Traditionally, bone was readily available and was often used to create smaller carvings. The tusks of various animals provide a gorgeous cream-colored material to work with and for many centuries there was a roaring trade in carved elephant tusks. However, today there are laws governing the ivory trade and you should check the local regulations before investing in an ivory carving.
For many non-Africans, it is a surprise to hear that there has been a tradition of working in metal in many parts of the continent even in medieval times. Archaeologists have found metal sculptures as far afield as Benin and the Niger Delta in the north to Mapungubwe in the south. Bronze, copper, gold and silver are some of the metals used to create these pieces, which were usually cast. Today's sculptors often work in steel and instead of casting the pieces, they weld them into shape. Sokari Douglas Camp from Nigeria and Edoardo Villa from South Africa are some of the renowned artists who work in metal.
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.
Art galleries around the world sell sculptures made by artists from Africa. These can be a very good investment. If you are only looking for an inexpensive piece that doesn't necessarily have to be completely unique, you will find plenty of choices at any street market in Africa's tourist hotspots.
Africans have been creating sculptures for millennia. The variety of styles reflects the variety of cultures that call this continent home. Some pieces are realistic-looking animals, from elephants and hippos to giraffes and antelope. Others are deeply spiritual. Depictions of people can be true to life or they can be abstract, in a style that greatly influenced Western artists like Pablo Picasso.
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.
Another inexpensive and therefore popular medium is clay. However, stone is much more durable and some artists invest in quality, hard stone such as serpentine or granite. One type of stone that is commonly used is soapstone, which is quite soft and easily carved. Another advantage of soapstone is that it is available in a range of colors, including cream, lavender, yellow, red and black.
Traditionally, bone was readily available and was often used to create smaller carvings. The tusks of various animals provide a gorgeous cream-colored material to work with and for many centuries there was a roaring trade in carved elephant tusks. However, today there are laws governing the ivory trade and you should check the local regulations before investing in an ivory carving.
For many non-Africans, it is a surprise to hear that there has been a tradition of working in metal in many parts of the continent even in medieval times. Archaeologists have found metal sculptures as far afield as Benin and the Niger Delta in the north to Mapungubwe in the south. Bronze, copper, gold and silver are some of the metals used to create these pieces, which were usually cast. Today's sculptors often work in steel and instead of casting the pieces, they weld them into shape. Sokari Douglas Camp from Nigeria and Edoardo Villa from South Africa are some of the renowned artists who work in metal.
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.
Art galleries around the world sell sculptures made by artists from Africa. These can be a very good investment. If you are only looking for an inexpensive piece that doesn't necessarily have to be completely unique, you will find plenty of choices at any street market in Africa's tourist hotspots.
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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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