In addition to being one of America’s leading civil engineers, Robert Holmes gained considerable acclaim as a self-taught sculptor. His abstract and contemporary bronzes convey strength, grace, optimism and serenity and are reminiscent of the works of Auguste Rodin, Constantin Brâncuși, Gaston Lachaise and Henry Moore.
Holmes was born in 1927 in Missouri, where he grew up amid the Great Depression. He had an instinctive talent for design and, in his teens, helped his father build houses. Holmes later attended the University of Arizona, earning a degree in civil engineering.
In the early 1950s, Holmes moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he established the Robert Holmes Construction, Design and Development Company. He specialized in designing contemporary homes in the Bay Area before he relocated the business to Arizona in 1958.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Holmes was among Arizona’s most successful luxury home builders. His company also designed and built churches, banks, bridges, apartments and manufacturing plants.
In 1981, Holmes decided to pursue a second career as a sculptor and sold his business. With his wife, Edith, he moved to the Sea Ranch, a community located north of San Francisco. Over the next several years, Holmes worked with local foundries to create his sculptures but was dissatisfied with the process. In 1989, he formed his own bronze foundry — Bronze Plus — enabling him to oversee all aspects of production and forge relationships with other bronze artists.
Holmes’s abstract and figurative sculptures garnered attention from art critics and gallery owners across the United States. His semi-abstract and curvilinear works range from table-sized miniatures such as Pas De Tres and Dancers on Toe to large-scale monumental sculptures like The Game and Bull and Ball.
Holmes’s works have been exhibited extensively in the United States, Europe and Asia. His sculptures are in private, corporate and public collections, such as the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln, Massachusetts, the Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, California, and the Hyatt Regency in San Diego. He died in 2016.
On 1stDibs, discover Robert Holmes’s dynamic sculptures.
Arched Dancers 2 (Small/Medium) 3/5
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Bronze
Arched Dancers 2 (Miniature) 3/40
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Bronze
Arched Dancers 2 (Miniature) #11/40
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Bronze
Arabesque (miniature) - 24 Karat Gold plated
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Gold, Bronze
$39,600
Tossa De Mar
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
Bronze A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-kno...
Bronze
Reverse (miniature) - 24 Karat Gold plated
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Gold, Bronze
$3,775
H 16 in W 7 in D 8 in
Woman Lying Down & Growing with Tree bronze sculpture by Yulla Lipchitz
Located in Hudson, NY
Organic, abstract bronze sculpture by Yulla Lipchitz of a woman lying down with a tree. About this artist: Yulla Lipchitz, née Halberstadt, was born on April 21, 1911 in Berlin, Ge...
Bronze
$2,350
H 12 in Dm 4 in
David Hostetler Bronze Sculpture Figurative Green Full FigureSmall By Commission
By David Hostetler
Located in Nantucket, MA
The Classic Lady bronze was cast from a wood carving. She is David's most petite sculpture. Movement and grace with the twist at the waist and tilt of the head. She can add beauty to...
Bronze
$2,857
H 7.09 in W 3.15 in D 3.55 in
Bronze Sculpture 'Bolas II' by Carola Eggeling, Bronze Polished
By Carola Eggeling
Located in Paris, FR
Bronze Sculpture 'Bolas II' by Carola Eggeling Abstract sculpture with beautiful curved lines. German bronze sculpture Bronze Polished Certificate of authenticity Numbered and sign...
Bronze
$7,199
H 19.69 in W 8.27 in D 11.82 in
Lotte- 21st Century Bronze Sculpture of a sitting Young Girl
By Wim van der Kraan
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
Lotte 50 x 21 x 30 cm Bronze The theme van der Kraan likes most is to show the growing of young girls. Living in their own world. Like this girl watching ...
Bronze
$6,500
H 22 in W 8 in D 5 in
Female Torso in Bronze Finish - Contemporary Figurative Sculpture by Zura
By Zura
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This work encapsulates Zura's deep exploration of the human form, rendered with raw immediacy and emotional resonance. The sculpture’s sensuous curves and rough, tactile surface invi...
Bronze
$3,000
H 6.3 in W 5.12 in D 3.94 in
"Cinnilla" Bronze Sculpture 16" x 13" x 10" inch by Sarkis Tossonian
By Sarkis Tossonian
Located in Culver City, CA
"Cinnilla" Bronze Sculpture 16" x 13" x 10" inch by Sarkis Tossonian Sarkis Tossoonian was born in Alexandria in 1953. He graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts/Sculpture in 1979. ...
Bronze
$3,142
H 7.09 in W 6.7 in D 7.88 in
Limited Edition /12 Quirky Bronze Sculpture with Blue Patina "Dunno"
Located in Cape Town, ZA
Limited Edition of 12. A quirky sculpture with a blue patina and shiny bronze finish Davies creates playful sculptures that celebrate the courage it takes to embrace vulnerability. ...
Granite, Bronze
$1,199
H 15.5 in W 5 in D 5 in
Amazing Original Fahri Aldin Bronze Sculpture. Limited Edition Stunning New Work
By Fahri Aldin
Located in Belleville, CA
An Amazing New Piece at an Incredible Price by renowned Canadian Artist Fahri Aldin. This Stunning Beauty titled 'The Proud Stallion' is Limited Edition 3 out of 27. From his latest ...
Bronze
$1,199
H 14.5 in W 9 in D 4 in
Amazing Original Fahri Aldin Bronze Sculpture. Limited Edition Stunning New Work
By Fahri Aldin
Located in Belleville, CA
An Amazing New Piece at an Incredible Price by renowned Canadian Artist Fahri Aldin. This Stunning Beauty titled 'The Stallion' is Limited Edition 2 out of 27. From his latest series...
Bronze
$3,250
H 4 in W 10 in D 4.75 in
Colin Webster-Watson, Reclining Nude, 1996, Polished Bronze Sculpture, 3/10
By Colin Webster Watson 1
Located in Palm Desert, CA
This polished bronze sculpture by Colin Webster-Watson reduces the reclining female figure to a fluid, biomorphic silhouette, its high-gloss surface catching light along the sweeping...
Bronze
Sojourner Series #16
By Bill Barrett
Located in New York, NY
A great small maquette that has a naturalistic form mirroring nature. Works like these by Bill Barrett have long been loved to grace bookshelves, consoles, coffee tables and mantles...
Bronze
$1,750
H 6.3 in W 11.82 in D 7.09 in
British Contemporary Sculpture by Philip Hearsey - No Need
By Philip Hearsey
Located in Paris, IDF
Bronze Series of individual variations Stamped with monogram signature on underside and uniquely numbered 615A This sculpture sits low on a surface and is ideal for placement on a lo...
Bronze
Arched Dancers 2 (Small) AP
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Bronze
Arabesque (miniature) #3/40
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Bronze
Dancers (Miniature) Turquoise Patina #2/40
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Bronze
Solo (miniature) - 24 Karat Gold plated
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Bronze, Gold
Solo (miniature)
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Bronze
Pas De Tres (miniature unique)
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Bronze
Pas De Tres (miniature, unique)
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Bronze
Just Dancing AP2 (Medium)
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Bronze
Mr. G, Small - High Polish
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Bronze
Banana, High Polish
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Bronze
Arched Dancers 2, Miniature, AP 2
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Bronze
Solo, Small AP 1
By Robert Holmes
Located in Napa, CA
A civil engineer for 30 years, Holmes has been exhibiting and selling his sculptures since 1975 in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia. He is now very well-known for h...
Bronze