Sculpture

Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable sculptural processes originally used carving (the removal of material) and modelling (the addition of material, as clay), in stone, metal, ceramics, wood and other materials but, since Modernism, there has been an almost complete freedom of materials and process. A wide variety of materials may be worked by removal such as carving, assembled by welding or modelling, or molded or cast.

Sculpture in stone survives far better than works of art in perishable materials, and often represents the majority of the surviving works (other than pottery) from ancient cultures, though conversely traditions of sculpture in wood may have vanished almost entirely. However, most ancient sculpture was brightly painted, and this has been lost.

Sculpture has been central in religious devotion in many cultures, and until recent centuries large sculptures, too expensive for private individuals to create, were usually an expression of religion or politics. Those cultures whose sculptures have survived in quantities include the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean, India and China, as well as many in Central and South America and Africa.

The Western tradition of sculpture began in ancient Greece, and Greece is widely seen as producing great masterpieces in the classical period. During the Middle Ages, Gothic sculpture represented the agonies and passions of the Christian faith. The revival of classical models in the Renaissance produced famous sculptures such as Michelangelo's David. Modernist sculpture moved away from traditional processes and the emphasis on the depiction of the human body, with the making of constructed sculpture, and the presentation of found objects as finished art works.

* Description and images provided by Wikipedia under CC-BY-SA 3.0 license .

Matching Sculpture Colleges

Virginia Commonwealth University

Four or more years; Public; $32,742 average out-state tuition; $12,094 average in-state tuition

Rhode Island School of Design

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $55,220 average out-state tuition; $55,220 average in-state tuition

Maryland Institute College of Art

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $50,160 average out-state tuition; $50,160 average in-state tuition

Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Four or more years; Public; $26,630 average out-state tuition; $1,030 average in-state tuition

Yale University

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $59,950 average out-state tuition; $59,950 average in-state tuition

University of Houston

Four or more years; Public; $20,877 average out-state tuition; $8,685 average in-state tuition

Savannah College of Art and Design

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $38,340 average out-state tuition; $38,340 average in-state tuition

Scholarships for Sculpture Majors

Bullet name award deadline Link
 

Beinecke Scholarship - Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College

$34,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Beinecke Scholarship is open to juniors at Dartmouth College who plan to enter a master's or doctoral program in the arts, humanities or social sciences. You must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. national from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Marian Islands and demonstrate financial need to qualify for this award. In addition,...

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Beinecke Scholarship - Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College

award

$34,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Beinecke Scholarship is open to juniors at Dartmouth College who plan to enter a master's or doctoral program in the arts, humanities or social sciences. You must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. national from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Marian Islands and demonstrate financial need to qualify for this award. In addition,...

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Nancy Shaw McKee Scholarship

Clarion University of Pennsylvania, College of Arts and Sciences

Up to $22,030 Varies See Details

Description

The Nancy Shaw McKee Scholarship is available to majoring in the College of Arts and Sciences at Clarion University. Your selection for this award will be based on academic performance and financial need. In order to be considered for this award, you must first be nominated by a faculty member. Once nominated, you will need to submit a "Goals...

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Nancy Shaw McKee Scholarship

Clarion University of Pennsylvania, College of Arts and Sciences

award

Up to $22,030

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Nancy Shaw McKee Scholarship is available to majoring in the College of Arts and Sciences at Clarion University. Your selection for this award will be based on academic performance and financial need. In order to be considered for this award, you must first be nominated by a faculty member. Once nominated, you will need to submit a "Goals...

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Alfred University Art Portfolio Review Scholarship

Alfred University

Up to $21,000 February 01, 2026 See Details

Description

The Art Portfolio Review Scholarship is available to full - time entering freshmen and transfer students enrolled in the School of Art and Design at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University.

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Alfred University Art Portfolio Review Scholarship

Alfred University

award

Up to $21,000

deadline

February 01, 2026
See Details

Description

The Art Portfolio Review Scholarship is available to full - time entering freshmen and transfer students enrolled in the School of Art and Design at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University.

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Sturgis Fellowship

University of Arkansas

$20,000 February 01, 2026 See Details

Description

The Sturgis Fellowship is available to incoming freshmen who plan on majoring in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas. You must demonstrate exceptional academic performance to be considered for this renewable award. In addition, you must have a minimum 30 ACT/1320 SAT score and a minimum 3.8 GPA to be...

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Sturgis Fellowship

University of Arkansas

award

$20,000

deadline

February 01, 2026
See Details

Description

The Sturgis Fellowship is available to incoming freshmen who plan on majoring in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas. You must demonstrate exceptional academic performance to be considered for this renewable award. In addition, you must have a minimum 30 ACT/1320 SAT score and a minimum 3.8 GPA to be...

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Fine Arts Fellowship - Wabash College

Wabash College

Up to $15,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Fine Arts Fellowship is open to students attending Wabash College and studying visual arts, creative writing, music or theater. The requirements for applying vary with each field. This scholarship is renewable annually, provided you maintain normal progress towards graduation.

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Fine Arts Fellowship - Wabash College

Wabash College

award

Up to $15,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Fine Arts Fellowship is open to students attending Wabash College and studying visual arts, creative writing, music or theater. The requirements for applying vary with each field. This scholarship is renewable annually, provided you maintain normal progress towards graduation.

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Arts and Music Scholarship - Rhodes College

Rhodes College

Up to $12,500 February 15, 2026 See Details

Description

The Arts and Music Scholarship is available to entering freshmen at Rhodes College. You must plan to major or minor in art, music, or theatre to be eligible for this award. Music and theatre applicants must audition and art applicants must submit slides.

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Arts and Music Scholarship - Rhodes College

Rhodes College

award

Up to $12,500

deadline

February 15, 2026
See Details

Description

The Arts and Music Scholarship is available to entering freshmen at Rhodes College. You must plan to major or minor in art, music, or theatre to be eligible for this award. Music and theatre applicants must audition and art applicants must submit slides.

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Nordan Fine Arts Program Award - Texas Christian University

Texas Christian University

$10,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Nordan Fine Arts Program Award is open to students at Texas Christian University. You must demonstrate exceptional talent in art, ballet, modern dance, music or theatre to be eligible for this award.

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Nordan Fine Arts Program Award - Texas Christian University

Texas Christian University

award

$10,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Nordan Fine Arts Program Award is open to students at Texas Christian University. You must demonstrate exceptional talent in art, ballet, modern dance, music or theatre to be eligible for this award.

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MFA Provost's Graduate Fellowship

University of Central Florida

$10,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Provost's Graduate Fellowship is available to first year graduate students at the University of Central Florida. You must be newly enrolling in one of UCF’s Master of Fine Arts programs to be eligible for this award.

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MFA Provost's Graduate Fellowship

University of Central Florida

award

$10,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Provost's Graduate Fellowship is available to first year graduate students at the University of Central Florida. You must be newly enrolling in one of UCF’s Master of Fine Arts programs to be eligible for this award.

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Art Scholarship - Young Harris College

Young Harris College

Up to $8,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Art Scholarship is open to entering freshmen at Young Harris College. You must be an art major and demonstrate outstanding artistic ability. Written recommendations and on-campus interviews are required and surveys of your portfolio will be conducted. You must maintain a "C" average each semester to retain your award for both the freshman...

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Art Scholarship - Young Harris College

Young Harris College

award

Up to $8,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Art Scholarship is open to entering freshmen at Young Harris College. You must be an art major and demonstrate outstanding artistic ability. Written recommendations and on-campus interviews are required and surveys of your portfolio will be conducted. You must maintain a "C" average each semester to retain your award for both the freshman...

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Honors Scholarship - Bethel College, Kansas

Bethel College - Kansas

$7,500 Varies See Details

Description

The Honors Scholarship is available to incoming freshman students at Bethel College, Kansas, who demonstrate outstanding ability in chemistry, history, psychology, business, or art.

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Honors Scholarship - Bethel College, Kansas

Bethel College - Kansas

award

$7,500

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Honors Scholarship is available to incoming freshman students at Bethel College, Kansas, who demonstrate outstanding ability in chemistry, history, psychology, business, or art.

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