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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Firemen's Dinner for Brancusi
c. 1926 -
Woman
c. 1926 -
On view
Floor 7Miss Tamara, the Dachshund
1926–1931 -
On view
Floor 7Bearded Lady
1926–1931 -
On view
Floor 7Clown
1926–1931 -
On view
Floor 7Parachutist
1926–1931 -
On view
Floor 7Parachutist: Metal wheels
1926–1931 -
Horse
1926–1931 -
On view
Floor 7Kangaroo
1926–1931 -
On view
Floor 7Negress
1926–1931 -
On view
Floor 7Birdhouse with Birds
1926–1931 -
On view
Floor 7Little Clown, the Trumpeteer
1926–1931 -
On view
Floor 7Trumpeteer: Trumpet
1926–1931 -
On view
Floor 7Trumpeteer: Tube
1926–1931 -
On view
Floor 7Trumpeteer: Tube
1926–1931 -
On view
Floor 7Rigoulot, the Strong Man, Weight Lifter
1926–1931 -
On view
Floor 7Rigoulot, the Strong Man: Dolly for barbell
1926–1931 -
On view
Floor 7Rigoulot, the Strong Man: Green felt
1926–1931 -
On view
Floor 7Seals
1926–1931 -
On view
Floor 7Dog Trainer and Dog
1926–1931 -
On view
Floor 7Sword Swallower
1926–1931 -
On view
Floor 7Elephant and Trainer
1926–1931 -
On view
Floor 7Camel
1926–1931 -
On view
Floor 7Cyclist
1926–1931 -
On view
Floor 7Cow
1926–1931 -
On view
Floor 7Prima Donna
1926–1931 -
On view
Floor 7Man on Stilts
1926–1931 -
On view
Floor 7Cowboy on Horse
1926–1931 -
On view
Floor 7Cowboy
1926–1931 -
On view
Floor 7Exotic Dancer
1926–1931
186 works