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.
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
$1,340
H 25 in W 13 in
"GORBUNOK" Sculptural Lamp by 25" x 13" inch Grigorii Gorkovenko
By Grigorii Gorkovenko
Located in Culver City, CA
"GORBUNOK" Sculptural Lamp by 25" x 13" inch Grigorii Gorkovenko A desk lamp which is made of genuine wood and filled with special energy and handmade work by the “GV design” master...
Plastic, Wood
$93,266
H 26.38 in W 12.6 in D 9.85 in
Yves Klein Dying Slave After Michelangelo IKB Sculpture Bright Klein Blue
By Yves Klein
Located in Paris, FR
Yves Klein, Dying Slave after Michelangelo IKB blue resin in plexiglas, signed Rotraut Klein Moquay and numbered 224/300 on the base on a label. 300 editions numbered from “1/300” to...
Resin, Plexiglass
Virgin and Child
Located in Wien, Wien
OUTSTANDING MADONNA Bavaria Around 1515/20 Lime wood carved Original, polychrome version Height 60 cm This masterfully carved, full-round Madonna was created around 1515-20 in...
Wood
Corpus Christi 1150/70
Located in Wien, Wien
Corpus Christi around 1150/70 Southern France or Catalonia carved oak wood height 109 cm, width 96 cm Remains of polychromy
Wood
Pair Flying Angels
Located in Wien, Wien
MUSEUM PAIR FLYING ANGELS Brabant/Brussels Around 1500 Oak wood, full round carved Height 40/38 cm These two figures are a pair of flying angels mad...
Wood, Oak
Corpus Christi
Located in Wien, Wien
MUSEUM CORPUS CHRISTI Spain/Catalonia or Asturias Around 1250 Corpus hardwood, arms softwood Remains of the original polychrome setting Height 109.5...
Wood
$75,778
H 16.34 in W 11.62 in D 11.62 in
Yves Klein Blue Earth Sculpture IKB Pigment Plaster Cast in Plexiglas Box
By Yves Klein
Located in Paris, FR
Concieved 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 HC XXX/L on the base on a label affixed under the base. 300 editions numbered from “1/300” to “300/300″ 50 editions numbered from”HCI/L” à “HC L/L” H. 36 cm With the Plexiglas box: 41.5 x 29.5 x 29.5 cm Yves Klein is an influential French conceptual artist who works in a wide variety of fields. Arguably best known for his use of a very vibrant shade of blue, he began to create his monochrome series in the 1950s by developing and patenting his own signature shade known as IKB or International Klein Blue. Born April 28, 1928 in Nice, the artist founded the New Realism movement with the art critic Pierre Restany...
Plaster, Synthetic Resin, Pigment
Carry a Quiet Heart
By Denny Haskew
Located in Loveland, CO
"Carry a Quiet Heart" by Denny Haskew Figurative Bronze Bust, Native American (companion piece is Dance Every Dance) 23x13x13" ed/25 #8 of 25 available "I carry a quiet heart and se...
Bronze
CRESCENT MOON MADONNA
Located in Wien, Wien
Master in the circle of Michael Pacher (Mühlen ca. 1435 - 1498 Salzburg) Salzburg Around 1480 Carved limewood Old polychrome version Height 118 cm This Madonna is an outstanding ex...
Wood
Sitting Madonna
Located in Wien, Wien
Sitting Madonna Central Italy/Tuscany or Marche Around 1420 Poplar wood carved Original version Height 31 cm Charming Madonna sculpture from the heyday of the Soft or International...
Wood
El Nino
By Denny Haskew
Located in Loveland, CO
El Nino by Denny Haskew Figurative Bronze, Contemporary Madonna and Child 25" x 16" x 20" ed/20 "I am the door to love without conditions When you walk thro...
Bronze
Museum Madonna
Located in Wien, Wien
Museum Madonna Nikolaus Weckmann Ulm 1481 - 1526 Ulm Carved limewood Polychrome painted & gilded Height 132 cm Niklaus Weckmann was an important sculptor who was active in the l...
Wood