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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Woman with Square Umbrella
By Alexander Calder
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A sculpture in wood depicting a woman holding an umbrella. "Woman with Square Umbrella" by Post War artist Alexander Calder is signed underneath, "Calder." "Woman with a Square Umbre...
Wood
rare Maeght sculpted holiday card 1968 - collectors item mid century modern art
By Alexander Calder
Located in New York, NY
Alexander Calder rare Maeght sculpted holiday card, 1968 Hand made sculpted paper collage on paper with embossing Embossed artist's monogram 10 × 7 × 6 1/2 inches This rare, fold-ou...
Paper, Mixed Media, Laid Paper, Lithograph, Offset
$200
H 9.5 in W 7.25 in
"Portalito", Abstract Patterns, Geometric Abstraction, Woodcut Monoprint
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This piece titled "Portalito" is an original piece by Alexis Nutini and is made from a woodcut monoprint mounted on panel. This piece measures 7.25"h x 9.5"w. Born in Mexico City, ...
Panel, Monoprint, Woodcut
Unavailable|$16,241
H 12.21 in W 1.97 in
Il Trovatore, Chirico, Multiples, 1970's, Bronze, Sculpture, Surrealiste
By Giorgio De Chirico
Located in Geneva, CH
Il Trovatore, Chirico, Multiples, 1970's, Bronze, Sculpture, Surrealiste Il trovatore Ed. 250 pcs 1971 Bronze with silver patina H. 31 cm Signed and date...
Bronze
Unavailable|$123,260
H 5.91 in W 5.91 in D 0.6 in
Tête de Faune, Picasso, Unique work, 1960's, Terracotta, Tiles, Design, Sculptur
By Pablo Picasso
Located in Geneva, CH
Tête de Faune, Picasso, Unique work, 1960's, Terracotta, Tiles, Design, Sculptur Tête de faune Unique work 14.03.1961 Painted and glazed terracotta tile...
Terracotta
Unavailable|$14,439
H 5.52 in W 0.4 in D 0.4 in
Pichet Têtes, by Picasso, Pitcher, 1950's, Edition, Black and white, Design
By Pablo Picasso
Located in Geneva, CH
Pichet Têtes, by Picasso, Pitcher, 1950's, Edition, Black and white, Design Pichet Têtes Ed. 500 pcs 1956 White earthenware, decoration with oxidized par...
Ceramic, Earthenware
Unavailable|$6,808
H 5.99 in W 1.58 in
Picador, Pablo Picasso, Ashtray, Design, Sculpture, Ceramic, White, Edition
By Pablo Picasso
Located in Geneva, CH
Picador, Pablo Picasso, Ashtray, Design, Sculpture, Ceramic, White, Edition Picador Ed. 500 pcs 1952 White earthenware clay, oxidized paraffin decoration, white enamel D. 15.2 cm St...
Ceramic, Earthenware
Unavailable|$13,147
H 9.45 in Dm 1.19 in
Scène de Tauromachie, Picasso, Edition, 1950's, Bull, Plate, Design, Animal
By Pablo Picasso
Located in Geneva, CH
Scène de Tauromachie, Picasso, Edition, 1950's, Bull, Plate, Design, Animal Scène de tauromachie Ed. 193/500 pcs 1957 Red earthenware clay, engobe decoration, knife engraved D.24 cm...
Ceramic, Earthenware, Terracotta
Unavailable|$43,387
H 16.54 in Dm 1.19 in
Profil de Jacqueline, Pablo Picasso, Edition, 1950's, Monochrome, Design, Plate
By Pablo Picasso
Located in Geneva, CH
Profil de Jacqueline, Pablo Picasso, Edition, 1950's, Monochrome, Design, Plat Profil de Jacqueline Ed. 100 pcs 22.01.1956 White earthenware clay D. 42 cm Stamped on the back: Empre...
Earthenware
$400
H 14.5 in W 9.5 in
"Portal I", Abstract Patterns, Geometric Abstraction, Woodcut Monoprint on Panel
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This piece titled "Portal I" is an original piece by Alexis Nutini and is made from a woodcut monoprint mounted on panel. This piece measures 14.5"h x 9.5"w. Born in Mexico City, A...
Panel, Monoprint, Woodcut, Paper
$750Sale Price|21% Off
H 50 in W 34 in D 2 in
Richard Serra, Torqued Spirals Toruses and Spheres, Gagosian Gallery
By Richard Serra
Located in Pasadena, CA
Richard Serra, Torqued Spirals Toruses and Spheres Poster, Hal. New York: Exhibition : Gagosian Gallery, October 18th - December 15th 2001. Size is framed. Richard Serra was an A...
Paper, Black and White
Unavailable|$27,610
H 10.44 in W 3.75 in
Young Wood Owl, Pablo Picasso, 1950's, Multiples, Design, Postwar, Pitcher
By Pablo Picasso
Located in Geneva, CH
Young Wood Owl, Pablo Picasso, 1950's, Multiples, Design, Postwar, Pitcher Young wood-owl Ed. 500 pcs 1952 White earthenware clay, partly polychromed and glazed 26.5 x 9.5 cm Stampe...
Ceramic, Earthenware
Unavailable|$33,573
H 12.21 in W 3.94 in
Face, Pablo Picasso, 1950's, Earthenware, Decorative Art, Design, Interior,
By Pablo Picasso
Located in Geneva, CH
Face, Pablo Picasso, 1950's, Earthenware, Decorative Art, Design, Interior, Ed. 500 pcs 1955 White earthenware clay, decoration in engobe, glaze inside Inscribed and stamped on the...
Ceramic, Clay, Earthenware, Glaze
Unavailable|$32,869
H 12.6 in W 15.36 in D 2.37 in
Taureau gravé, Pablo Picasso, 1940's, plate, Sculpture, Design, Bull
By Pablo Picasso
Located in Geneva, CH
Taureau gravé, Pablo Picasso, 1940's, plate, Sculpture, Design, Bull Taureau gravé Ed. 84/200 pcs 1947 White earthenware clay, engobe decoration, engrav...
Ceramic, Earthenware
Prelude to the Man Eater, A03849
By Alexander Calder
Located in Palm Desert, CA
"Prelude to the Man Eater, A03849" is a mobile sculpture made of sheet metal, wire, and paint by Alexander Calder. The work is signed with the artist's monogram on the uppermost element, "CA". The overall size is 59 x 42 x 18 inches. This work is a study for "Man-Eater With Pennant", part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. The work is also represented in "Sketches for Mobiles: Prelude to Man-Eater; Starfish; Octopus", that is in the permanent collection of the Harvard Fogg Museum. Alexander Calder was a key figure in the development of abstract sculpture and is renowned for his groundbreaking work in kinetic art; he is one of the most influential artists of the Twentieth Century. "Prelude to Maneater" is a delicately balanced standing sculpture that responds to air currents, creating a constantly changing and dynamic visual experience. Calder's Stabiles were a result of his continuous experimentation with materials, form, and balance. This Stabile is a historically significant prelude to a larger work commissioned in 1945 by Alfred Barr, the first director of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. "Prelude to Maneater" is designed to be viewed from multiple angles, and encourages viewers to walk around and interact with it. Work by Calder can be found in esteemed private collections, and the collections of major museums worldwide including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Tate Gallery in London among others. Provenance: Estate of the Artist M. Knoedler & Co., New York Galerie Internazionale, Milan Arnold Herstand...
Metal, Wire
Untitled (Plate 7) DLM
By Alexander Calder
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Unsigned (as issued) From: Derriere le Miroir, No. 141 Edition: possibly 1500 Published by A. Maeght, Paris
Lithograph
Untitled (Standing Mobile)
By Alexander Calder
Located in Palm Desert, CA
metal, wire and paint Provenance: Acquired from the Artist; Gift to the present owner.
Metal, Wire