Creating negative space and openwork designs in bronze sculptures is a meticulous process that blends artistry with technical precision. Artists begin by conceptualizing the design, often sketching or modeling the sculpture in clay or wax to visualize the interplay between solid forms and voids.

The openwork technique involves carving or casting intricate patterns that leave deliberate gaps, allowing light to pass through and enhancing the sculpture's dynamism. Lost-wax casting is a common method, where the artist builds a wax model with the desired negative spaces, encases it in a ceramic mold, and melts the wax away to leave a hollow form for molten bronze.

For negative space, sculptors may use chisels, drills, or lasers to remove material from solid bronze, creating voids that define shapes indirectly. Modern techniques like 3D printing also enable precise openwork designs by layering metal powders.

Mastery of these methods allows artists to transform heavy bronze into seemingly weightless, lace-like structures, showcasing the material's versatility and the sculptor's skill.