How did Calder become an artist?

The story of how Calder became an artist begins with his parents. Both artists themselves, they did not want him to suffer the hardships of trying to make a living in art, so they encouraged the young Alexander Calder to study mechanical engineering at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. He subsequently 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 applied his engineering background to his artwork, such as his understanding of gears and moving parts for kinetic sculptures like Cirque Calder (1931) and free-standing abstract sculptures he called “stabiles.” Explore a selection of Alexander Calder art on 1stDibs.