Cartoon Abstract Character Sculptures
Stylised character figures reduced to bold, simple geometry — made to order for plazas, shopfronts, lobbies and playgrounds in gloss-painted fibreglass.
Not every piece we make is a likeness of a particular person. A large part of the work is a character instead: a figure reduced to its essential shapes, exaggerated for personality and painted in flat, confident colour. A character like that reads instantly from the far side of a plaza, and it does not depend on anyone recognising an individual.
Below: what each scale costs and how long it takes, where a piece that size belongs, and what the material means for how long it lasts.
Size — Material — Price
| Size | FRP Fibreglass | Stainless Steel — for comparison |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5–2.0 m | $900–$5,900 | $2,500–$40,000 |
| 2.0–3.0 m | $5,000–$15,000 | $15,000–$28,000 |
| 3.0 m + | $15,000–$150,000+ | $55,000–$350,000+ |
* This price is for rough reference only; a detailed quote will be provided based on the specific details of each project.
Which Character, And In What Finish?
Fibreglass, And What It Is Compared Against
FRP fibreglass — the material we build in
Layered glass-fibre in a mould over an internal steel frame, then multi-layer automotive paint with hand-painted detail and a UV clear coat. It is the only material here that reproduces an exact colour, and above 1.5 m it typically costs 50–70% less than stainless steel for the same shape. Outdoor life is 15–20 years before the coat needs refreshing; a good workshop will warrant it for up to 30.
Stainless steel — for comparison only
Fabricated and welded from sheet and tube rather than moulded. It lasts 50+ years outdoors with no recoating, which is genuinely better than fibreglass, and it is competitive on smooth geometric forms. Where it loses is colour and likeness, and detailed stainless work runs 2.5–4 times the fibreglass price. We list it so you can see the trade-off; we do not fabricate it.
True bronze — for comparison only
Bronze is coloured with a chemical patina rather than paint, so it cannot reproduce a specific coat or shirt colour. We still cast it for memorial work; it is listed here so you can see why it is the wrong tool for a cartoon sculpture.
Cold-cast resin — for comparison only
Bronze powder in resin, hand-painted, indoor only, and it cannot be re-patinated. We list it so you can recognise it, not so you can buy it: our smallest pieces are 1.5 m.
What every quote states
The laminate and paint specification, the UV clear-coat type, the internal steel frame, structural calculations where the piece is over 2 m, door-to-door freight, who pays import duty, who handles rigging and installation, and the warranty period. If a quote omits any of these, ask.
Abstract Character Commissions
Abstract Character Sculpture FAQ
What counts as an abstract character sculpture?
A figure that is deliberately not a likeness: simplified geometry, an oversized head, blocky limbs, and no attempt at individual facial features. It is the difference between a sculpture of a specific person and a character that stands for something — a brand, a place, a feeling.
Can you match our brand colours exactly?
Yes, and it is the main reason we build in fibreglass. Multi-layer automotive paint reproduces a specific brand colour, a logo or a uniform precisely. A metal finish is coloured by a chemical patina and cannot match a pigment.
How is this different from a portrait sculpture?
Cost and risk, mostly. A portrait has to satisfy someone who knew the subject, and the face and hands are the most expensive part. An abstract character has no likeness to argue about, so the work goes into proportion and silhouette instead — which is why these pieces sit at the lower end of each price range.
Where do abstract characters usually go?
Shopfronts, retail atria, hotel and office lobbies, playgrounds, roundabouts and park entrances. Anywhere the piece needs to read quickly from a distance or carry a brand rather than a face.
How much does a character cost?
Fibreglass above 1.5 m surveys at $900–$5,900 for 1.5–2.0 m and $5,000–$15,000 at 2.0–3.0 m. A character with no face sits toward the bottom of each band, because there are no features to refine.
How long does a character take?
About 6–9 weeks for a 1.5–2.0 m piece, longer as size and complexity rise. Repeating the same character across several sites adds nothing to the first build and very little to each one after it.
Do you offer a discount for several identical pieces?
Yes, and it is the largest saving available. A one-off commission carries the full mould cost, which for a life-size piece runs roughly $2,000–$8,000. From about ten identical pieces the mould is amortised and the unit price drops 40–60%.
Do you offer smaller indoor keepsakes?
No. We build at scale only — our smallest pieces are 1.5 m. Cold-cast resin appears on our materials page for comparison only, so you can see why a painted resin piece is not right for a large outdoor installation.
What should a quote include?
The laminate and paint specification, the UV clear-coat type, the internal steel frame, structural calculations where the piece is over 2 m, door-to-door freight, who pays import duty, who handles rigging and installation, and the warranty period. If any of these is missing, ask — they are where a low quote hides its cost.