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.
Vibrant Motion: Kinetic Sculpture - Iron, Paint, Movement
By Alexander Calder
Located in Barcelona, ES
Vibrant Motion: Kinetic Sculpture - Iron, Paint, Movement Manufactured in France by unknown artist, circa 1990. In original condition with minor wear consistent of age and use, pre...
Metal
Vibrant Motion: Kinetic Sculpture - Iron, Paint, Movement
By Alexander Calder
Located in Barcelona, ES
Vibrant Motion: Kinetic Sculpture - Iron, Paint, Movement Manufactured in France by unknown artist, circa 1990. In original condition with minor wear consistent of age and use, pre...
Metal
Le Corbusier's Modulor Book, 1970 Edition, Good Condition, Germany
By Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand
Located in Barcelona, ES
Le Corbusier Der Modulor book. Le Corbusier published Le Modulor in 1948, followed by Modulor 2 in 1955. These works were first published in English as The Modulor in 1954 and Modulo...
Paper
Man Ray - Le Cadeau Surrealist Sculpture, 1974 - Signed and Numbered
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, ES
Own an iconic piece of surrealist art with Man Ray's Le Cadeau, a striking sculpture produced in 1974 in Italy. This limited-edition work is numbered 125/5000 and signed by the artis...
Iron
Marcel Duchamp & André Breton Le Surréalisme en 1947 Iconic First Edition
By André Breton
Located in Barcelona, ES
Rare first edition of Le Surréalisme en 1947, a seminal work curated by André Breton and featuring the iconic cover design Prière de Toucher by Marcel Duchamp. Published in Paris by ...
Paper
'Sculpture 0002' - High-Fired Clay Biomorphic Sculpture by David Nobaru
Located in Barcelona, ES
Discover the contemporary elegance of 'Sculpture 0002,' a high-fired clay biomorphic sculpture by Spanish artist David Nobaru. Created in 2020, this unique piece exemplifies Nobaru's...
Ceramic
Mid-Century Modern Calder Stabiles Paper Art Book Suite of 8 Lithographs, 1970s
By Alexander Calder
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
For your consideration is this 1973 paperback book with 8 lithographs by Alexander Calder. An introduction in French by James Jones, the book is also written in french and published by Maeght. In excellent condition. The dimensions of the book are 11" W x 15" H. Check out our three-floor showroom located at: ~ Le Shoppe Too ~ 3325 Orchard Lake Rd. Keego Harbor, MI 48320 ~ ~ Tue-Sat 12pm-5pm ~ Sun-Mon by Apt. only ~ We ship world-wide and quote through USPS, FedEx, UPS, DHL, GPX, and with multiple domestic and international freight shipping companies to get you the best price on delivery, and we offer free pick-up for anyone who wants to handle their own delivery. In most cases parcels are shipped out in 1-3 days and delivered in 3-5 days. Freight deliveries can take anywhere from 1-10 weeks depending on location. We have freight shipments delivered to the East Coast every 1-2 weeks, and to the West Coast every 3- 5 weeks. All delivery dates provided by us are estimates, and all freight deliveries are fulfilled by third party companies. The shipping company we book your delivery with will contact you directly to schedule delivery. While damage in transit is rare, if you receive a damaged item...
Paper
1970's Alexander Calder lithographic cover (Derrière le miroir)
By Alexander Calder
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Alexander Calder Lithographic cover from Derrière le miroir: Lithographic cover; 1976. 11 x 15 inches (folding open to 15x22 inches). Scattered surface and age related wear; in otherwise good overall vintage condition. Unsigned from an edition of unknown. Published by: Galerie Maeght, Paris, c. 1976. Unsigned from an edition of unknown. Looks fantastic framed. Derrière le miroir: In October 1945 the French art dealer Aimé Maeght opens his art gallery at 13 Rue de Téhéran in Paris. His beginning coincides with the end of Second World War and the return of a number of exiled artists back to France. The publication was created in October 1946 (n°1) and published without interruption until 1982 (n°253). Its original articles and illustrations (mainly original color lithographs by the gallery artists) who were famous at the time. The lithographic publication covered only the artists exhibited by Maeght gallery either through personal or group exhibitions. Among them were, Pierre Alechinsky, Francis Bacon, Alexander Calder, Marc Chagall, Eduardo Chillida, Alberto Giacometti, Vassily Kandinsky, Ellsworth Kelly, Fernand Léger, Henri Matisse, Joan Miró, Saul Steinberg and Antoni Tapies. Related Categories: Mid century modern. Alexander Calder prints. Calder orange. Calder red...
Lithograph
Alexander Calder Rare Tapestry Catalogs, 1970s, Signed
Located in San Diego, CA
A collection of four rare Alexander Calder catalogs from the 1970s. Also included is a New York Times newspaper clipping from 1976, when the artist passed. Aubusson Tapestries by A...
Paper
Alexander Calder -- Derriere Le Miroir, Numbered and Hand signed
By Alexander Calder
Located in BRUCE, ACT
Alexander Calder Derriere Le Miroir, 1975 7 original lithographs with text in French and additional photographs of Calder and his sculpture work. Hand Signed Edition number 55/150 F...
Archival Paper
Alexander Calder Exhibition Museum Billboard "Calder's Universe", 1977
By (after) Alexander Calder
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Alexander Calder Exhibition Billboard "Calder's Universe" 1977 Lithograph signed in the plate lower right "Calder" A rare period piece made...
Paper
Calder 'La Grenouille et la Scie' Lithograph Vintage
By Alexander Calder
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This limited edition print, titled La Grenouille et la Scie, was published by Pace Columbus for an exhibition held at the gallery in 1971. The print is plate signed and not numbered,...
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.
