Sculptor
What the work is
Conceives and creates three-dimensional forms to communicate impressions and ideas by carving or modelling materials such as wood, stone, clay and metal, or assembling found and manufactured materials.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Communicates impressions and ideas by carving or modelling materials, or assembling found and manufactured materials
- Develops artistic concepts or ideas by exploring themes, researching and sketching
- Chooses materials such as marble, bronze, clay, wood, stone, metal or a combination of different materials depending on the desired outcome
- Uses techniques such as modelling, moulding or casting, to build up layers or shapes
- Uses tools such as chisels, hammers, rasps, files and drills, for carving or cutting away material
- Refines the surfaces of the sculptures using sandpaper or polishing tools to achieve the desired smoothness or texture
- Creates large scale, site-specific artworks (installations) that transform spaces using diverse materials and elements, including sculpture, light, sound, video or found objects, to create immersive and interactive experiences for viewers
- Collaborates with Architects, engineers or installation specialists to ensure proper installation and structural integrity
- May consider placement and display of their artwork, with smaller sculptures on pedestals or plinths, and larger works requiring installation in public spaces, gardens or galleries
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a shared artists' studio in a regional town, with a gallery space at the front. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- After weeks of struggling with a canvas, one colour finally makes the whole picture work
- A stranger stands in front of your piece for ten minutes and then asks what it means to you
- A commission arrives from someone who loves your work and gives you room to make it your own
Hard days
- A blank canvas and no ideas, with a gallery date getting closer
- A commission where the client wants something safer than you want to make
- Months of work that nobody buys, while rent and materials still need paying
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 231733, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.