The history of sculpture in the United States began in the 1600s with humble low-relief decorations on gravestones and utilitarian objects, evolving into a significant folk art tradition exemplified by ship figureheads, which helped launch the career of the country's first famous sculptor, William Rush (1756–1833). In the 1830s, the "Italian years" saw prominent American sculptors like Horatio Greenough and Hiram Powers study in Florence and Rome, developing the elegant Neoclassic style, a period where American women sculptors also achieved notable fame despite societal challenges.
Following the Civil War, American sculptors increasingly studied in Paris, embracing the naturalistic and dramatic styles championed by French artists, with figures such as Augustus Saint-Gaudens becoming highly influential. Concurrently, a unique "home grown" American realism emerged, most famously depicted in Frederic Remington's frontier scenes, pioneering the enduring genre of "Western Art" into the 21st century.
This era also witnessed a massive increase in public monuments, particularly after the Civil War, often featuring realistic figures commemorating national events, alongside the development of a distinct genre of animal sculptors known as Animaliers. This continuous evolution has solidified American sculpture's contribution to global art.