Skip to main content

Alexander Calder Sculptures

American, 1898-1976

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.

to
1
1
Overall Height
to
Overall Width
to
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
376
380
203
183
181
1
Artist: Alexander Calder
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...
Category

1920s Post-War Alexander Calder Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Related Items
Tête Solaire, Pablo Picasso, Unique Ceramic, 1950's, Earthenware, Design, Tile
By Pablo Picasso
Located in Geneva, CH
Tête Solaire, Pablo Picasso, Unique Ceramic, 1950's, Earthenware, Design, Tile Tête solaire II Unique work 27.01.1956 Large white earthenware tile, green stripes on white enamel on ...
Category

1950s Post-War Alexander Calder Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic, Earthenware

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...
Category

1960s Post-War Alexander Calder Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

Oiseau à la Huppe, Picasso, ashtray, design, ceramic, animals, art, postwar
By Pablo Picasso
Located in Geneva, CH
Oiseau à la Huppe, Picasso, ashtray, design, ceramic, animals, art, postwar Oiseau à la huppe Ed. 500 pcs 1952 White earthenware clay, oxidized paraffin decoration, white enamel, bl...
Category

1950s Post-War Alexander Calder Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic, Earthenware

Faune aux marottes, Picasso, 1950's, Earthenware, Unique work, 1950's, Design
By Pablo Picasso
Located in Geneva, CH
Faune aux marottes, Picasso, 1950's, Earthenware, Unique work, 1950's, Design Faune aux marottes Unique work 1.12.1956 Earthenware, decoration with engobes and metallic oxides 15.1 ...
Category

1950s Post-War Alexander Calder Sculptures

Materials

Earthenware

Picador, by Pablo Picasso, 1950's, Bowl, Sculpture, Design, Edition, Earthenware
By Pablo Picasso
Located in Geneva, CH
Picador, by Pablo Picasso, 1950's, Bowl, Sculpture, Design, Edition, Earthenware Picador Ed. 500 pcs 1955 White earthenware clay, decoration in engobes and paraffin, white enamel 12...
Category

1950s Post-War Alexander Calder Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic, Earthenware

Paysage, Pablo Picasso, 1950's, Plate, Design, Ceramic, Figuratif, Editions
By Pablo Picasso
Located in Geneva, CH
Paysage, Pablo Picasso, 1950's, Plate, Design, Ceramic, Figuratif, Editions Paysage Ed.200 pcs 08.12.1953 White earthenware clay, decoration in engobes, knife engraved, under glaze ...
Category

1950s Post-War Alexander Calder Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic, Earthenware

Colombe sur lit de paille, Pablo Picasso, Plate, Multiples, Earthenware, Ceramic
By Pablo Picasso
Located in Geneva, CH
Colombe sur lit de paille, Pablo Picasso, Plate, Multiples, Earthenware, Ceramic Colombe sur lit de paille Ed. 300 pcs 1949 White earthenware clair, decoration in engobes, knife eng...
Category

1940s Post-War Alexander Calder Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic, Earthenware

Pichet Poule, by Pablo Picasso, Pitcher, 1950's, Design, Blue, Decoration
By Pablo Picasso
Located in Geneva, CH
Pichet Poule, by Pablo Picasso, Pitcher, 1950's, Design, Blue, Decoration Pichet Poule Ed. 500 pcs 1954 Shaped piece turned in white faience earth with blue oxide decoration on white enamel 13.5 x 17 x 10 cm Stamped under the base: Madoura plein feu, Edition Picasso, Edition Picasso, Madoura Catalogue Raisonné de l'oeuvre céramique de Picasso de 1947 à 1971, by Alain Ramié, Madoura, 1988, illustrated under no.250, p.133. For this ceramic, Picasso uses...
Category

1950s Post-War Alexander Calder Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic, Earthenware

Yves Klein Blue Earth Sculpture IKB Pigment Plaster Cast in Plexiglas Box
By Yves Klein
Located in Paris, FR
Created in 1957, this edition started to be executed in 1988 IKB pigment and synthetic resin on plaster cast, in plexiglas, signed Rotraut Klein Moquay and numbered XXX/300 on the ba...
Category

1950s Post-War Alexander Calder Sculptures

Materials

Plaster, Synthetic Resin, Pigment

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...
Category

1950s Post-War Alexander Calder Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic, Earthenware

Corrida Scenes, Pablo Picasso, Set, Ceramics, Design, Art, Sculpture, Postwar
By Pablo Picasso
Located in Geneva, CH
Corrida Scenes, Pablo Picasso, Set, Ceramics, Design, Art, Sculpture, Postwar Corrida Scenes of 8 pieces : Paseo, Pase de cape, Picador, Banderilleros, Pase de muleta, Cogida, Estoc...
Category

1950s Post-War Alexander Calder Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic, Earthenware

Bouquet à la pomme, Picasso, 1950's, Multiples, Plate, Fruits, Ceramic, Postwar
By Pablo Picasso
Located in Geneva, CH
Bouquet à la pomme, Picasso, 1950's, Multiples, Plate, Fruits, Ceramic, Postwar Bouquet à la pomme Ed. 400 pcs 1956 Earthenware, decoration underli...
Category

1950s Post-War Alexander Calder Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic, Earthenware

Previously Available Items
Bouchon de Bouteille en Spirale, Alexander Calder, American Art, Sculpture, 60's
By Alexander Calder
Located in Geneva, CH
Bouchon de Bouteille en Spirale, Alexander Calder, American Art, Sculpture, 60's Bouchon de Bouteille en Spirale circa 1964 Chromed wire and cork 9 x 4.8 cm Provenance : Private c...
Category

1960s American Modern Alexander Calder Sculptures

Materials

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
Category

1960s Constructivist Alexander Calder Sculptures

Materials

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.
Category

1940s American Modern Alexander Calder Sculptures

Materials

Metal, Wire

Alexander Calder sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Alexander Calder sculptures available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Alexander Calder in wood and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 1920s and is mostly associated with the post-war style. Not every interior allows for large Alexander Calder sculptures, so small editions measuring 6 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Rico Lebrun, César Baldaccini, and Pablo Picasso. Alexander Calder sculptures prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $250,000 and tops out at $250,000, while the average work can sell for $250,000.

Artists Similar to Alexander Calder

Questions About Alexander Calder Sculptures
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    The American sculptor Alexander Calder invented the mobile, a moving artwork composed of delicately balanced sculptural forms suspended from the ceiling. His 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. Shop a selection of Alexander Calder pieces from some of the world’s top art dealers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Alexander Calder’s artwork has found its home in many museums and art galleries around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim Museum. Shop a selection of Alexander Calder’s pieces from some of the world’s top art dealers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021
    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. On 1stDibs, find a variety of vintage Alexander Calder drawings and other sculptures.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    American artist Alexander Calder is best known for his work in sculpture, particularly his monumental sculptures and innovative ‘mobiles’ in the tradition of kinetic art. Shop a collection of authentic Alexander Calder pieces from some of the world’s top art dealers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Alexander Calder's mobiles were revolutionary because he largely pioneered the art form of creating hanging sculptures that were able to move freely in response to airflow. Calder was a prolific artist believed to have produced more than 22,000 works during his life. Shop a variety of Alexander Calder art on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    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.

Recently Viewed

View More