Metal

A general category for artworks, typically sculptures, and design/decorative objects made of metal. Generally, metals are both malleable and durable, and so make for sturdy art objects ranging from minuscule to monumental in size. Metals and their various alloys can produce a vast range of colors and surface qualities, and therefore have long been the subject of artistic and craft experimentation around the world. The processes of casting, pressing, joining, and decorating metal are similarly vast in scope. Metals are the subject of numerous different cultural associations about utility and value; steel, for instance, is typically associated with durability and functionality, while precious metals such as gold and silver are associated with material wealth. However, contemporary artists continue to push the boundaries of these materials and challenge their cultural connotations.