Alexander Calder
1898–1976
Introduction
Alexander Calder (; July 22, 1898 – November 11, 1976) was an American sculptor known both for his innovative mobiles (kinetic sculptures powered by motors or air currents) that embrace chance in their aesthetic, his static "stabiles", and his monumental public sculptures. Calder preferred not to analyze his work, saying, "Theories may be all very well for the artist himself, but they shouldn't be broadcast to other people."
Wikidata identifier
Q151580
Information from Wikipedia, made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Accessed April 17, 2024.
Introduction
Calder graduated from Stevens Institute of Technology in 1919 with a degree in mechanical engineering. After taking classes at the Arts Students League, he became a freelance artist and illustrator, and published a book titled Animal Sketching. In the 1920s, Calder began traveling to Paris, where he was exposed to modernist tendencies in art. In 1930, after visiting Piet Mondrian's studio, where he was impressed by the studio environment, he began to create Comment on works: abstract, moving constructions, coined “mobiles” by Marcel Duchamp in 1931, for which he is most known. From the 1930s onward, Calder divided his time between trips abroad and his home in Roxbury, Connecticut, and as his commissions grew more frequent, his mobiles became increasingly gigantic. Examples are Flamingo, the stabile at Federal Center Plaza in Chicago, and L’Araignée rouge, at the Rond Point de La Défense Métro station in Paris.. Comment on works: abstract
Country of birth
United States
Roles
Artist, designer, illustrator, lithographer, painter, sculptor, tapestry designer
ULAN identifier
500007824
Names
Alexander Calder, Calder, Sandy Calder
Information from the Getty Research Institute's Union List of Artist Names ® (ULAN), made available under the ODC Attribution License. Accessed April 17, 2024.
186 works
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Wooden Bottle with Hairs
1943 -
Constellation
c. 1943–1950 -
Score for Ballet 0-100
1942 -
(Necklace)
c. 1940 -
On view
Floor 7Hanging Spider
c. 1940 -
Necklace
1940 -
(Earrings)
c. 1940s -
(Earrings)
c. 1940s -
Cage within a Cage
c. 1939 -
(Belt buckle)
c. 1935 -
Half-circle, Quarter-circle, and Sphere
1932 -
Two Acrobats
1932 -
The Wild Beast Cage
1932 -
On the High Wire
1932 -
Sphérique I
1931 -
Fables of Aesop, According to Sir Roger L'Estrange
1931 -
The Handstand with Chair
1931 -
Juggler with Dog
1931 -
Tumbler on Swing
1931 -
Handstand on the Table
1931 -
Object with Red Discs
1931 -
Little Ball with Counterweight
c. 1931 -
Double Cat
1930 -
Old Bull
1930 -
Varèse
c. 1930 -
The Brass Family
1929 -
Horse
c. 1929 -
Wire Sculpture by Calder
1928 -
Erhard Weyhe
1928 -
Elephant
c. 1928
186 works