1975
The American sculptor Alexander Calder is known as the father of the mobile, a moving artwork composed of delicately balanced sculptural forms suspended from the ceiling.
Because Calder's parents, both artists themselves, did not want him to suffer the hardships of trying to make a living in art, they encouraged the young Calder to study mechanical engineering at the Stevens Institute of Technology, in Hoboken, New Jersey. He worked a number of jobs, including as a hydraulic engineer and draftsman for the New York Edison Company, before deciding to pursue an artistic career. He never abandoned his engineering background, however, applying his understanding of gears and moving parts in all his artworks, from mechanical toys like the Cirque Calder (1931) and his revered prints to his free-standing abstract sculptures, called stabiles.
In 1926, Calder moved to Paris and established a studio in the Montparnasse quarter. He began creating the many parts of his famous miniature circus from found materials, such as wire, string, cloth, rubber and cork. Designed to be transportable, Cirque grew to fill five suitcases over the years. Always interested in putting forms in motion, Calder also pioneered a new art form called wire sculptures, which he described as “drawings in space.” Like his famous mobiles, the wire sculptures were suspended so that they turned with any movement of the air, presenting different forms when viewed from different angles.
In the 1950s, Calder returned to his roots in mechanical engineering, creating monumental abstract sculptures that verged on the architectural. He worked from loose gestural drawings like this preparatory sketch for his Man Stabile, from 1966. Throughout his career, he also worked as a set designer for the theater, as well as an illustrator and printmaker, producing vibrant, whimsical drawings for books and journals.
Find original Alexander Calder art today on 1stDibs.
Alexander Calder Jute 'Sun' Tapestry, 1974 Guatemala
By (after) Alexander Calder
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Extremely rare Alexander Calder jute tapestry. This is the 'Sun' design tapestry. Made in Guatemala, in 1974. Gorgeous coloring and large sized. Excellent condition. These tapestries...
Jute
Spirals
By Alexander Calder
Located in London, GB
Alexander Calder Spirals, 1969 signed bottom right Color lithograph on Rives BFK, 89 x 60 cm 35 x 23.6 inches Alexander Calder was an American sculptor known both for his innovative...
Handmade Paper, Lithograph
Red and Blue Swirl with Sun
By Alexander Calder
Located in New York, NY
Created in 1975 by Alexander Calder as an original lithograph in colors on wove paper, Red and Blue Swirl with Sun is hand-signed in pencil and annotated "E.A.". Measuring 20 ½ x 29 ...
Lithograph
$75,000
H 45.5 in W 63.75 in
"Les Vagues" Alexander Calder, Modernist, Red and Blue, Swirling Waves
By Alexander Calder
Located in New York, NY
Alexander Calder Les Vagues, 1975 Signed and Numbered 29 (on a label affixed to the reverse) Handwoven Aubusson wool tapestry 40 1/2 x 59 inches Edition 29/200 Provenance Truist Ban...
Tapestry, Wool
Spirale Nebula
By Alexander Calder
Located in New York, NY
A very good impression of this large color lithograph on Arches. Signed and numbered 94/100 in pencil by Calder. Printed and published by Mourlot, Paris.
Color, Lithograph
$80,000
H 75 in W 95 in D 1 in
Large & Rare Alexander Calder Snakes Jute Tapestry Bon-Art Guatemala 6x8 ft
By Alexander Calder
Located in Harrington Park, NJ
Alexander Calder Snakes Jute Tapestry Bon-Art Guatemala CAC Publications/Bon Art 1975 hand-woven maguey fiber This tapestry is the largest format made by the artist.
Jute
$16,300
H 41.25 in W 54.25 in D 1 in
Signed Oriflammes Lithograph Print, Abstract Style, Edition 35/75
By Alexander Calder
Located in Naples, Florida
Lithograph in colors on wove paper Edition 35 of 75 Signed and numbered in pencil lower right and left: Calder, edition of 75 Published by Maeght, Paris Titled in p...
Paper, Lithograph
$495
H 21.25 in W 17.25 in
Alexander Calder Abstract Geometric Lithograph, 1968, from Derriere Le Miroir
By Alexander Calder
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Alexander Calder Title: Plate 1 Portfolio: Derriere le Miroir #173 Medium: Lithograph Year: 1968 Edition: Unnumbered Frame Size: 21 1/4" x 17 1/4" Sheet Size: 15" x 11" Image...
Lithograph
Alexander Calder Lithograph (L'Espoir du Volubius) 1973
By Alexander Calder
Located in Woodbury, CT
Alexander Calder Lithograph, L'Espoir du Volubius(Hope of Volubilis) 1973 hand signed and numbered in Roman numerals XXXIV/L(34/50)
Paper
The Triangles and Spiral
By Alexander Calder
Located in Missouri, MO
The Triangles and Spiral, 1973 By. Alexander Calder (American, 1898-1976) Signed Lower Right Numbered: 66/150 Unframed: 26 x 19.25 inches Framed: 34 x 27 inches Alexander Calder was born in Philadelphia in 1898. After obtaining his mechanical engineering degree from the Stevens Institute of Technology, Calder worked at various jobs before enrolling at the Art Students League in New York City in 1923. During his student years, he did line drawing for the National Police Gazette. In 1925, Calder published his first book, Animal Sketches...
Color, Lithograph
Femme Arabe Tapestry, Abstract Geometric Wool, Late 20th Century
By Alexander Calder
Located in New York, NY
Femme Arabe 1975 Tapestry Hand-woven by Ateliers Pinton, Aubusson, France Artist proof 80 x 54 inches ( (203.2 x 137.16 cm) Medium: Natural Wool Monogram on lower right Original la...
Tapestry, Wool
Worms and Sun, American Modern Gouache and Watercolor on Paper, 1963
By Alexander Calder
Located in New York, NY
Alexander Calder (1898-1976) American, Lawnton, PA - New York, NY “Worms and Sun” 1963 Gouache and watercolor and paper 29 ½ x 21 ½ in. unframed 36 ⅞ x 27 ⅞ in. framed Signed and da...
Paper, Watercolor, Gouache
Untitled Op Art Serigraph, Signed Artist Proof, Framed, 20th Century
By Eusebio Sempere
Located in New York, NY
Eusebio Sempere Untitled Serigraph, Artist Proof Signed lower right Marked P/A Framed in a beautiful gold-leaf wooden frame with archival museum-quality mat. Spanish artist Eusebio ...
Paper, Screen
Mid-20th Century Abstract Canvas Painting with Curved Lines
By Jean Xceron
Located in New York, NY
Jean Xceron (Greek-American, 1890 – 1967) Mid-20th Century Abstract Painting Oil on canvas 41.7 x 43.5 inches Signed lower left Jean Xceron (1890 – 1967) is a modernist artist who...
Canvas, Oil
Curtain Acrylic Painting, Abstract Expressionist, Signed, 20th Century
By Stanley William Hayter
Located in New York, NY
Curtain, 1975, by Stanley William Hayter (1901-1988) Oil on canvas 25 x 19 inches unframed (63.5 x 48.26 cm) 26 ¼ x 20 ⅜ inches framed (66.675 x 51.753 cm) Signed and dated on bottom...
Acrylic
Zig - Field D Acrylic Painting on Canvas, Abstract Geometric, 1969
By Paul Reed
Located in New York, NY
Paul Reed Zig - Field D, 1969 Acrylic On Canvas 28 x 96in Signature and title on reverse stretcher Paul Reed ( 1919 - 2015 ) was a member of the " Washington Color School " an art ...
Canvas, Acrylic
There are no sparkling gemstones on this necklace, but its value far exceeds the cost of its materials.
Get your dose of Vitamin D while surveying works by the likes of Alexander Calder, Keith Haring and Pablo Picasso.
