Definition
A sculptor is an artist who makes three-dimensional works of art by carving, modeling, or shaping materials like stone, metal, or clay.
Etymology
From Latin “sculptor” meaning “carver,” from “sculpere” meaning “to carve or chisel.” It originally referred to people who worked in stone and similar hard materials.
Kelly Says
A sculptor doesn’t just add material; often they remove it, slowly revealing a form that was hidden in the block. It’s almost like the statue was already there, waiting to be uncovered.
Translations
AFAfrikaans
beeldhouer
baylt-HOU-er
AMአማርኛ
ጥረቢያ ባለሙያ
tirebiya balemuye
BGБългарски
скулптор
skulp-TOR
CACatalà
escultor
es-kul-TOR
CSČeština
sochař
so-KHARZH
DADansk
billedhugger
bil-led-HUG-ger
DEDeutsch
Bildhauer
BILT-hau-er
ELΕλληνικά
γλύπτης
GHLEEP-tees
ESEspañol
escultor
es-kul-TOR
ETEesti
skulptor
skulp-TOR
EUEuskara
eskultore
es-kul-TO-re
FAفارسی
مجسمه ساز
maj-sa-me saaz
FISuomi
kuvanveistäjä
ku-van-vei-staa-ya
FRFrançais
sculpteur
skul-TUR
GLGalego
escultor
es-kul-TOR
HIहिन्दी
मूर्तिकार
moor-ti-KAAR
HUMagyar
szobrász
so-BRAAS
IDBahasa Indonesia
pematung
pe-ma-tung
ITItaliano
scultore
skul-TO-re
LTLietuvių
skulptorius
skulp-TO-rius
LVLatviešu
tēlnieks
tel-NIEKS
MNМонгол
барималч
barimalch
MSBahasa Melayu
pengukir
peng-u-kir
MYမြန်မာ
ပန်းပုပညာရှင်
pan-pu-pa-nya-shin
NLNederlands
beeldhouwer
BAYLT-hou-wer
NONorsk
billedhugger
bil-led-HUG-ger
PLPolski
rzeźbiarz
zhezh-BYASH
PTPortuguês
escultor
es-kul-TOR
RORomână
sculptor
skulp-TOR
RUРусский
скульптор
skul'-PTOR
SKSlovenčina
sochár
so-KHAAR
SLSlovenščina
kipar
KI-par
SVSvenska
skulptör
skulp-TUR
SWKiswahili
mchoraji
mcho-RA-ji
THไทย
ประติมากร
pra-ti-ma-kon
TRTürkçe
heykeltıraş
hey-kel-ti-RASH
UKУкраїнська
скульптор
skul'-PTOR
URاردو
مجسمہ ساز
maj-sa-ma saaz
VITiếng Việt
nhà điêu khắc
nha dieu khac
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Sculpture has historically been male-dominated in many traditions, with women sculptors facing barriers to training, studio space, and patronage. Language and exhibitions often foregrounded male sculptors as the default.
Inclusive Usage
Use ‘sculptor’ as gender-neutral and avoid assuming a sculptor is male; name women and nonbinary sculptors when relevant.
Inclusive Alternatives
["artist (in sculpture)","3D artist"]
Empowerment Note
Women sculptors have produced significant public and private works, frequently under-recognized in art history and museum collections.