(after) Alexander Calder Prints

Alexander Calder is best known for his sculptures. He produced large, playful freestanding and hanging works in vibrant colors. Examples include Mobile-Stabile, Lobster Trap and Fish Tail and Flying Dragon. On 1stDibs, you can shop a selection of Alexander Calder art.

Alexander Calder invented the mobile, a moving artwork composed of delicately balanced sculptural forms suspended from the ceiling. The revered American sculptor's mobiles were an innovative feat and initially used motors for movement, which he later abandoned for air currents alone. Calder was also a pioneer of wire sculptures. (He was a celebrated modernist printmaker, too, and while jewelry was a secondary métier for him, interest in his wearable art has accelerated in recent years.)

For Calder, the fascinating moment of artistic alchemy comes sometime between his representational canvases of the late 1920s and 1931, the year of his first show of abstract sculpture. Moving to Paris helped spur his creativity, as it did for so many artists and writers. The moment Calder arrived, he began working on one of his most seminal pieces, Cirque Calder (1931), his delightful distillation of the circus into what are essentially three-dimensional line drawings made with wire. 

Shop authentic Alexander Calder prints, sculptures and other art from some of the world’s top art dealers on 1stDibs.

Alexander Calder used many of the elements of art when producing his works. The American sculptor is known as the father of the mobile, a moving artwork composed of delicately balanced sculptural forms suspended from the ceiling. These kinetic pieces use color, shape and space to convey a sense of unity, and the form of the art allows it to interact with its environment. Find a variety of Alexander Calder art on 1stDibs.

The term ‘mobile’, which was coined by Marcel Duchamp, was used to describe Alexander Calder’s work, as Calder’s sculptures often moved with the help of motors or wind. ‘Mobiles’ was a French pun which meant ‘motion’. On 1stDibs, find a variety of original artwork from Alexander Calder.

There are several interpretations of how to describe the characteristics of Alexander Calder’s sculptures. Some say they are abstract, with life-like elements, others say they are flat, simplified shapes that intersect at opposing angles. See the magic for yourself — shop a selection of Alexander Calder pieces from some of the world’s top art dealers on 1stDibs.

Alexander Calder produced more than 22,000 works of art during his lifetime. The prolific artist made paintings, drawings, prints, tapestries, stage sets, jewelry and other types of art. Some of his most famous pieces include Cirque Calder, Josephine Baker (III), A Universe, Mobile (Arc of Petals) and Devil Fish. Shop a diverse assortment of Alexander Calder art on 1stDibs.

Like all meaningful works of art, the mood that best describes American artist Alexander Calder’s sculptures is subject to interpretation. Common descriptors for his abstract work include “playful” or “whimsical.” Calder is best known as the father of the mobile, a moving artwork composed of delicately balanced sculptural forms suspended from the ceiling. Shop a selection of Alexander Calder pieces from some of the world’s top art dealers on 1stDibs.

A “Calder mobile” refers to a moving artwork created by American sculptor Alexander Calder composed of delicately balanced sculptural forms suspended from the ceiling. Calder 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. Find a collection of original Alexander Calder art on 1stDibs.

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.

Alexander McQueen is a luxury fashion brand founded by a designer by the same name. The fashion house designs haute couture and prêt-à-porter clothing for men and women, as well as shoes, handbags, accessories and jewelry. Shop a large selection of Alexander McQueen on 1stDibs.

Artist Alexander Calder used primarily industrial materials to create his mobile, such as steel, aluminum and wire. With a background in mechanical engineering, Alexander Calader uses his education to build mobiles with seemingly impossible silhouettes that make for eye-catching decor pieces. Shop a selection of Alexander Calder work on 1stDibs.

Bumsters are pants that sat low on the hips, exposing the top of the buttocks. Bumsters caused a bit of a sensation when Alexander McQueen debuted the risqué style in 1994. Fashion journalists mocked the ultra low-rise pants, comparing them to what builders would wear. Shop a selection of bumster pieces from some of the top boutiques on 1stDibs.

To pronounce Alexander McQueen, say "Ah-lug-ZAN-dur muh-KWEEN." The brand gets its name from its founder, who was born in Lewisham, United Kingdom, on March 17, 1969. Before launching his own label, he was the chief of design at the luxury house of Givenchy. On 1stDibs, find a collection of Alexander McQueen.

You can buy Alexander McQueen apparel and accessories directly from the brand's official website or in one of its physical boutiques. McQueen designs are also available by way of the brand's authorized retail partners such as Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Find vintage Alexander McQueen bags, dresses, jackets and other items for sale on 1stDibs.

Kering owns Alexander McQueen as well as a number of other luxury brands, including Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. François Pinault founded the French multinational corporation under the name Pinault S.A. in 1962. Kering was initially in the timber supply business (its focus shifted toward specialized retail distribution in the 1990s). Find a collection of vintage Alexander McQueen on 1stDibs.