You are likely to find exactly the calder gouache you’re looking for on 1stDibs, as there is a broad range for sale. In our selection of items, you can find
Modern examples as well as a
Abstract version. When looking for the right calder gouache for your space, you can search on 1stDibs by color — popular works were created in bold and neutral palettes with elements of
beige,
gray,
black and
orange. Artworks like these of any era or style can make for thoughtful decor in any space, but a selection from our variety of those made in
paint,
gouache and
watercolor can add an especially memorable touch. If space is limited, you can find a small calder gouache measuring 8.25 high and 10.57 wide, while our inventory also includes works up to 82.5 across to better suit those in the market for a large calder gouache.
The price for an artwork of this kind can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — a calder gouache in our inventory may begin at $370 and can go as high as $380,000, while the average can fetch as much as $133,000.
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.