Alexander CalderUntitled1976
1976
About the Item
- Creator:Alexander Calder (1898 - 1976, American)
- Creation Year:1976
- Dimensions:Height: 11 in (27.94 cm)Width: 8.5 in (21.59 cm)
- Medium:
- Period:
- Framing:Framing Options Available
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU55412331702
Alexander Calder
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: New York, NY
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- And Then...(Pink)By Takashi MurakamiLocated in New York, NYThis iconic lithograph in colors with cold stamping and high gloss varnish was created in 2011 by Takashi Murakami. Hand-signed in ink, numbered and ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Prints and Multiples
MaterialsLithograph
- DOB in Pure White Robe (Navy and Vermilion)By Takashi MurakamiLocated in New York, NYCreated as a color lithograph by Takashi Murakami in 2013, DOB in Pure White Robe (Navy and Vermilion) is hand-signed by the artist in marker, and numbered, measuring 19 ¾ x 19 ¾ inc...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- UN StampBy Andy WarholLocated in New York, NYCommissioned by the World Federation of United Nations Association (WFUNA) in 1979, Andy Warhol created UN Stamp to promote the ideals and goals of the United Nations. This color l...Category
20th Century Pop Art Prints and Multiples
MaterialsLithograph
- Sailor, Speed of LightBy James RosenquistLocated in New York, NYRich, vibrant and powerful, James Rosenquist created Sailor, Speed of Light in 1999 as one of the original lithographs to comprise his famed, Speed of Light portfolio. Hand-signed a...Category
Late 20th Century Abstract Abstract Prints
MaterialsLithograph
- Bicentennial, by Roy LichtensteinBy Roy LichtensteinLocated in New York, NYIncluded in America: The Third Century portfolio, Roy Lichtenstein created Bicentennial as an original color lithograph with screenprint in 1975, conceived to celebrate the 200th ann...Category
20th Century Pop Art More Prints
MaterialsLithograph, Screen
- DOB in Pure White Robe (Pink and Blue)By Takashi MurakamiLocated in New York, NYCreated as a color lithograph by Takashi Murakami in 2013, DOB in Pure White Robe (Pink and Blue), is hand-signed by the artist in marker, and numbered, measuring 19 ¾ x 19 ¾ inches ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Prints and Multiples
MaterialsLithograph
- Circa 1950 original poster for the Domaines Cordier, vins de bordeaux - WineLocated in PARIS, FRA beautiful poster produced around 1950, showing a detailed cartography of the various châteaux and wine estates that make up the wealth of the Bordeaux region. Alcohol - Wine - Bor...Category
1950s Prints and Multiples
MaterialsLinen, Paper, Lithograph
- Jean Dubuffet's 1950 exhibition poster La Métromanie - ParisBy Jean DubuffetLocated in PARIS, FRJean Dubuffet's 1950 exhibition poster for "La Métromanie ou les dessous de la capitale" at Galerie Nina Dausset is a remarkable work of art that testifies to the French artist's tal...Category
1950s Prints and Multiples
MaterialsPaper, Lithograph
- 1905 Original poster for the Chemins de fer de l'Ouest Brittany Normandy LondonLocated in PARIS, FRRobert Boullier's 1905 poster for the Chemins de fer de l'Ouest invites travelers on a captivating journey. This vintage masterpiece beckons explorers to d...Category
Early 1900s Prints and Multiples
MaterialsLithograph, Linen, Paper
- Original 1930’s poster by K. Strehl for Agfa - PhotographyLocated in PARIS, FROriginal 1930’s poster by K. Strehl for Agfa is a captivating piece of advertising art that encapsulates the essence of an era when photography ...Category
1930s Prints and Multiples
MaterialsLinen, Paper, Lithograph
- 1958 Original poster by Otto Nielsen for SAS (Scandinavian Airlines System)Located in PARIS, FROriginal poster by Otto Nielsen for SAS (Scandinavian Airlines System) Otto Nielsen (1916-2000) was an accomplished painter who devoted much of his career to studying the people and ...Category
1950s Prints and Multiples
MaterialsLinen, Paper, Lithograph
- Nicola de Maria's 1989 original poster for Roland Garros Tennis TournamentLocated in PARIS, FRIn the realm of sports advertising and poster art, Nicola de Maria's 1989 original poster for the Roland Garros Tennis Tournament stands as a masterpiece of vibrant creativity and ar...Category
1980s Prints and Multiples
MaterialsPaper, Lithograph
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
Renowned for His Mobiles, Alexander Calder Was Also Adept at Crafting Modernist Jewelry
There are no sparkling gemstones on this necklace, but its value far exceeds the cost of its materials.
10 Must-Visit American Public Sculptures
Get your dose of Vitamin D while surveying works by the likes of Alexander Calder, Keith Haring and Pablo Picasso.