C.1970
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.
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Alexander Calder -- Horizontal Pyramides
By Alexander Calder
Located in BRUCE, ACT
Alexander Calder Horizontal Pyramides, 1974 Lithograph Hand Signed lower right Numbered 84/100 lower left Sheet size 57× 78 cm Published by Bank Street Atelier, New York, to benefi...
Lithograph
Four Great Pyramids
By Alexander Calder
Located in Miami, FL
Alexander Calder (American, 1898-1976) Signed: Calder (Lower, Right) “Four Great Pyramids”, 1970 Lithograph in Colors on Arches Paper Sheet Size: 30” x 43” Numbered: Hand signed and ...
Lithograph
$10,400Sale Price|20% Off
H 38 in W 30.5 in D 1.5 in
Signed Abstract Geometric Pyramids Lithograph, 10/125, 1970s
By Alexander Calder
Located in Naples, Florida
Signed and numbered 10/125 This composition presents a field of sharply angled, pyramidal forms that appear to float across a light ground. Bold planes of red, yellow, blue, and bla...
Paper, Lithograph
$10,500
H 20.48 in W 28.35 in
Composition XI, from The Elementary Memory - American Kinetic Art
By Alexander Calder
Located in London, GB
This original lithograph in colours is hand signed in pencil by the artist “Calder” at the lower right image. It is also hand numbered in pencil from the edition 39 of 100, at the l...
Lithograph
Le Point de Non-Retour
By Alexander Calder
Located in New York, NY
Le Point de Non-Retour, 1969 Signed and numbered in pencil Lithograph in colors on wove paper 20 x 28.25 inches Edition 60 of 100
Lithograph
Untitled
By Alexander Calder
Located in New York, NY
Commissioned to create and published by The World Federation of United Nations Associations to celebrate it 30th Anniversary in 1976, Alexander Calder created this original color lit...
Lithograph
Red Pyramid
By Alexander Calder
Located in Miami, FL
Lithograph in colors on wove paper, full sheet Published and Printed by Bank Street Atelier, New York Signed and numbered in pencil from an edition of 110 copies 22.75 x 30.9 inch...
Lithograph
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
Untitled
By Alexander Calder
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Untitled Color lithograph, 1963 Unsigned (as issued) From:Derriere le Miroir, Volume 141 Large unsigned edition Printed by Mourlot, Paris Published by Aime Maeght, Paris Condition: C...
Lithograph
$12,000
H 40 in W 54 in
"Les Pyramides Grandes" framed signed lithograph by Alexander Calder. Edition EA
By Alexander Calder
Located in Boca Raton, FL
"Les Pyramides Grandes" framed geometric abstract lithograph of pyramids by Alexander Calder. Hand-lettered EA on lower left front. Hand-signed C...
Lithograph
CARNIVAL
By Louis Schanker
Located in Portland, ME
Schanker, Louis CARNIVAL. Color woodcut, 1948. Edition of 30. Signed, titled and numbered 24/30 in pencil. 14 1/4 x 21 inches (image), 18 x 24 inches (sheet). Hinging residue, verso,...
Woodcut
FLAMME VIVE
By Alfred Manessier
Located in Portland, ME
Manessier, Alfred. FLAMME VIVE. Lithograph in colors, 1959. Artist's Proof in addition to the edition of 175. Inscribed "Epreuve d'Artiste" and signed in pencil. 20 x 13 1/2 inches, ...
Lithograph
KITES
By Hector Saunier
Located in Portland, ME
Saunier, Hector (French, born Argentina, 1936-) . KITES. Aquatint and engraving in colors, 1974. Edition of 50. Titled, numberd, dated, and signed in pencil. 17 1/8 x 16 7/8 inches (...
Engraving, Aquatint
UNTITLED
By Yaacov Agam
Located in Portland, ME
Agam, Yaacov, (Jacob Gipstein) (Israeli, b. 1928). UNTITLED. Screenprint in colors, not dated. Edition of 165, signed with marker, and numbered 164/165. 18 1/2 x 47 3/4 inches, 470 x...
Screen
THE CAT
By Will Barnet
Located in Portland, ME
Barnet, Will. THE CAT. Szoke 120, Cole 117, Johnson 100. Color Lithograph, 1956. Edition of 12, titled and signed in pencil. Printed on Rives paper by Barnet. Estate of the artist v...
Lithograph
CELEBRATION
By Will Barnet
Located in Portland, ME
Barnet, Will. CELEBRATION. Szoke 222. Color Lithograph, 2005. One of 20 Artist's Proofs in addition to the edition of 95. Titled, Numbered "AP 7/20," and signed in pencil. Printed o...
Lithograph
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.
