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.
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"Les Vagues" Alexander Calder, Modernist, Red and Blue, Swirling Waves
By Alexander Calder
Located in New York, NY
Alexander Calder Les Vagues, 1975 Signed and Numbered 29 (on a label affixed to the reverse) Handwoven Aubusson wool tapestry 40 1/2 x 59 inches Edition 29/200 Provenance Truist Ban...
Tapestry, Wool
Porfolio Calder retrospektive (Maeght Zurich).
By Alexander Calder
Located in Saint-Didier, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Calder retrospektive (Maeght Zurich) Portfolio non paginé 26 pages c.giedion welcker (auteur) Maeght (éditeur) 1973 Contient 4 lithographies couleur don...
Paper
BLACK CHAIR (ORIGINAL GOUACHE)
By Alexander Calder
Located in Aventura, FL
Original gouache and ink painting on paper. Hand signed and dated by Alexander Calder. Executed in 1969, this work is registered in the archives of the Calder Foundation, New York,...
Paper, Ink, Gouache
UNTITLED (GIRAFFE)
By Alexander Calder
Located in Aventura, FL
Original crayon and pencil drawing on cut-out paper mounted on board. Hand signed with artist's initials CA. Executed in 1966, this work is registered in the archives of the Calder...
Paper, Crayon, Pencil
$1,000
H 20 in W 19 in D 1.25 in
"Picador" 1966 Experimental Surrealist Composition
Located in Soquel, CA
"Picador" 1966 Experimental Surrealist Composition Intriguing mixed-media piece by prominent California artist Morris Broderson (b. 1928 d. 2011.) A picador sits upon his horse, hol...
Paper, Watercolor, Graphite, Pinhole, Color Pencil
$15,000
H 19.25 in W 16 in
Birds at a waterhole, Heron, Flamingos, Swans, Egrets- San Diego Zoo
By Jessie Arms Botke
Located in Miami, FL
The iconic subject matter from Botke's oeuvre often features birds, particularly white peacocks, geese, egrets, and cockatoos. Women artists are on fire and very much in demand today...
Watercolor, Paper
$5,500
H 45 in W 70 in
Sterling Ruby American Flag Denim Chianti Flag Tapestry Wall Hanging Pop Art
By Sterling Ruby
Located in Surfside, FL
Sterling Ruby (American, b. 1972) 2015 CHINATI FLAG (DNM) Tag printed with SR STUDIO LA CA printed with handwritten edition number Ed # 88/100 Hand signed "Sterling Ruby" in black pe...
Fabric
$700
H 10 in W 10 in
Eggbeater 1: 34 Square inch Limited Edition Silk Scarf, for the Whitney Museum
By Stuart Davis
Located in New York, NY
Stuart Davis Eggbeater No. 1 Silk Scarf, ca. 1980 100% silks scarf 34 × 34 inches (the smaller measurements shown are after the scarf is folded, to minimize shipping costs, as it sh...
Silk, Screen
$946
H 35.83 in W 24.02 in D 0.4 in
Acrylic and Spray Paint of Paper - Office Series of Works - Framed
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
Title of the work "Engineer". Series "Office". This series was first exhibited in the lobby of the South Quadrum building (Konstitucijos Ave. 21B), a site whose office function play...
Paper, Spray Paint, Acrylic
$946
H 35.83 in W 24.02 in D 0.4 in
Acrylic and Spray Paint of Paper - Office Series of Works - Framed
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
Title of the work "Focus". Series "Office". This series was first exhibited in the lobby of the South Quadrum building (Konstitucijos Ave. 21B), a site whose office function playful...
Paper, Spray Paint, Acrylic
$20,000
H 25 in W 31 in
Costume Design for the Opèra De Paris by Iconic French Fashion Designer YSL
By Yves Saint Laurent
Located in New York, NY
Costume Design for the Ballets de Roland Petit by Iconic French Fashion Designer YVES SAINT-LAURENT (French, 1936-2008) Costume design Project Pour TURANGALILA Sight: 18 1/2 x 24 1...
Paper, Pastel, Ink, Watercolor
Large Scale Modernist Abstract Square and Circle
Located in Soquel, CA
Wonderful large scale natural toned mixed media abstract comprising a rectangle of antiqued white texturized with gesso'd hemp sacking and set above second ivory rectangle in pale ivory with circle of scumbled grey by British contemporary artist Richard Lawrence...
Gesso, Canvas, Oil
$1,200
H 26.75 in W 20.25 in D 1.38 in
Mid Century Modern Handstitched Owl Embroidered Textile Artwork 1960s
Located in Dallas, TX
Classic crewel embroidered Owl textile in original frame.
Fabric
Lacy Grey, semi nude mixed media muted tones lace charcoal
By Audrey Anastasi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Charcoal, pastel lace Audrey Anastasi states: "The paper doll series was created first in the presence of a live model, working quickly, in charcoal an...
Charcoal, Pastel, Fabric, Archival Paper
The Faun
By William Stout
Located in Pasadena, CA
Provenance Acquired by American Legacy Fine Arts directly from the artist Signed "2006 W.M. Stout" on upper right Exhibited The Imaginary, Carnegie Art Museum, Oxnard, California, ...
Paper, Ink, Watercolor
$20,000
H 18.2 in W 24.4 in D 2 in
Africa - Collage Painting in Orange - African American Artist - Spiral Group
Located in Miami, FL
African American artist Alvin Hollingsworth part of the famous Spiral Group , created an inventive and intriguing close-up portrait with figures in the distance. Found objects such as swatches of burlap, plastic spoons, press type and wood shapes are adhered to the surface make this work an object as much as an image. The overall image is bathed in a super hot orange-yellow. This is Hollingsworth interpretation of the soul of Africa. Indistinctly signed lower right in red. The work makes a powerful statement in person. Provenance: The Artist to a personal friend. Private collection Framed dimensions 19 1/4 x 25 1/4 in. Alvin Carl...
Fabric, Burlap, Wood, Oil