Skip to main content

Max Kalish Art

American, Lithuanian, 1891-1945
Born in Poland March 1, 1891, figurative sculptor Max Kalish came to the United States in 1894, his family settling in Ohio. A talented youth, Kalish enrolled at the Cleveland Institute of Art as a fifteen-year-old, receiving a first-place award for modeling the figure during studies with Herman Matzen. Kalish went to New York City following graduation, studying with Isidore Konti and Herbert Adams for the next two years. In 1912, Kalish studied with Paul Bartlett at the Academie Colarossi in Paris, France. In 1913, he continued his studies with Jean Antoine Injalbert at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. The financial support of his brother, family and friends had enabled Kalish to travel to Europe. But the money ran out and, though Kalish exhibited two portrait busts in the 1913 Paris Salon, he was forced to return to America, where he worked on the Column of Progress for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition, in San Francisco, California, with his former teacher, Isidore Konti. Back in Cleveland, he worked on portrait commissions of two United States Senators and the Mayor. In the Army by 1916, Kalish sculpted a series of bronze, one-third-life-size figures of solders. In 1920, he was back in Paris, where he would begin a life-long practice of spending half the year. In 1921, he sculpted his first laborer, “The Stoker”, a genre for which he would be best known, using as a model, a Cleveland blast furnace worker. In Paris in 1922, the sculptures of laborers by Belgian artist Constantine Meunier (1831-1905) cemented Kalish’s desire to sculpt workers. Kalish won first prize for four sculptures three laborers — in 1925 at the Cleveland Artists and Craftsmen exhibition, one of which a marble nude torso was acquired by the Cleveland Museum of Art. This prize and purchase accelerated Kalish’s career. In 1928, he received a commission from the City of Cleveland for a twelve-foot-high bronze sculpture of Abraham Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg Address. It stands today in front of the west entrance of the Board of Education on East 6th Street. Living and working in New York City in 1932, he was elected an Associate of the National Academy of Design in 1933. He later became a member of the National Sculpture Society. At the outset of World War II, Kalish was commissioned by the Museum of American History to sculpt forty-eight bronze figures — one-third-life-size — of those involved in the war effort, including President Roosevelt, his cabinet and other important people. He lived to see the work completed, though afflicted by cancer from which he died on March 18, 1945 in New York City. The sculpture of Max Kalish was included in the 1997 exhibition in Berkeley, California, “When Artists Became Workers: The People’s Art Movement of the ’30s and ’40s”, at the Judah L. Magnes Museum.
to
1
6
1
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
7
3
3
3
7
6
4
2
2
2
1
1
5
5
2
2
1
7
10,186
2,808
2,500
1,398
7
Artist: Max Kalish
20th Century Reclining Female Nude Marble Sculpture, Cleveland School Artist
20th Century Reclining Female Nude Marble Sculpture, Cleveland School Artist

20th Century Reclining Female Nude Marble Sculpture, Cleveland School Artist

By Max Kalish

Located in Beachwood, OH

Max Kalish (American, 1891-1945) Reclining Nude Marble Signed on base 9 x 20.5 inches Born in Poland March 1, 1891, figurative sculptor Max Kalish came to the United States in 1894,...

Category

Mid-20th Century Max Kalish Art

Materials

Marble

Barge Toiler -Mid 20th Century Modern WPA Labor Plaster Depression-Era Sculpture
Barge Toiler -Mid 20th Century Modern WPA Labor Plaster Depression-Era Sculpture

Barge Toiler -Mid 20th Century Modern WPA Labor Plaster Depression-Era Sculpture

By Max Kalish

Located in New York, NY

"Barge Toiler" by Max Kalish is a Mid 20th Century modern Depression-Era sculpture from his Labor series. The WPA era work is made of plaster. Max Kalish (1891 – 1945) Barge Toiler 12 x 8”x 4 inches Patinated plaster Signed and monogramed BIO Born in Poland March 1, 1891, figurative sculptor Max Kalish came to the United States in 1894, his family settling in Ohio. A talented youth, Kalish enrolled at the Cleveland Institute of Art as a fifteen-year-old, receiving a first-place award for modeling the figure during studies with Herman Matzen. Kalish went to New York City following graduation, studying with Isidore Konti and Herbert Adams...

Category

1930s American Modern Max Kalish Art

Materials

Plaster

Harmony, 20th century bronze & green marble base, nude man and woman with lyre
Harmony, 20th century bronze & green marble base, nude man and woman with lyre

Harmony, 20th century bronze & green marble base, nude man and woman with lyre

By Max Kalish

Located in Beachwood, OH

Max Kalish (American, 1891-1945) Harmony, c. 1930 Bronze with green marble base Incised signature on right upper side of base 14 x 9 x 5 inches, excluding base 17 x 10 x 8 inches, including base Born in Poland March 1, 1891, figurative sculptor Max Kalish came to the United States in 1894, his family settling in Ohio. A talented youth, Kalish enrolled at the Cleveland Institute of Art as a fifteen-year-old, receiving a first-place award for modeling the figure during studies with Herman Matzen. Kalish went to New York City following graduation, studying with Isidore Konti...

Category

1930s American Modern Max Kalish Art

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Locomotive Engineer, Early 20th Century Bronze Laborer, Cleveland School
Locomotive Engineer, Early 20th Century Bronze Laborer, Cleveland School

Locomotive Engineer, Early 20th Century Bronze Laborer, Cleveland School

By Max Kalish

Located in Beachwood, OH

Max Kalish (American, 1891-1945) Locomotive Engineer, 1926 Bronze Signed and dated on base, foundry mark: Meroni Radice Cire Perdue Paris 15.5 x 6 x 5 inches Born in Poland March 1, 1891, figurative sculptor Max Kalish came to the United States in 1894, his family settling in Ohio. A talented youth, Kalish enrolled at the Cleveland Institute of Art as a fifteen-year-old, receiving a first-place award for modeling the figure during studies with Herman Matzen. Kalish went to New York City following graduation, studying with Isidore Konti and Herbert Adams...

Category

1920s Max Kalish Art

Materials

Bronze

Nude Walking, Early 20th Century Bronze Sculpture, Cleveland School Artist
Nude Walking, Early 20th Century Bronze Sculpture, Cleveland School Artist

Nude Walking, Early 20th Century Bronze Sculpture, Cleveland School Artist

By Max Kalish

Located in Beachwood, OH

Max Kalish (American, 1891-1945) Nude Walking, 1930 Bronze Signed and dated on base 17 x 9 x 4 inches Born in Poland March 1, 1891, figurative sculptor Max Kalish came to the United States in 1894, his family settling in Ohio. A talented youth, Kalish enrolled at the Cleveland Institute of Art as a fifteen-year-old, receiving a first-place award for modeling the figure during studies with Herman Matzen. Kalish went to New York City following graduation, studying with Isidore Konti and Herbert Adams...

Category

1930s American Modern Max Kalish Art

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Miner Bookends
Pair of Miner Bookends

Pair of Miner Bookends

By Max Kalish

Located in New York, NY

Max Kalish was an important and highly collected American sculptor desired for his depictions of the working man. Here we see a miner taking a break. Kalish was adept at conveying ...

Category

1920s Academic Max Kalish Art

Materials

Bronze

"Road Builder" 20th Century Modern WPA Labor Bronze WPA Depression-Era Sculpture
"Road Builder" 20th Century Modern WPA Labor Bronze WPA Depression-Era Sculpture

"Road Builder" 20th Century Modern WPA Labor Bronze WPA Depression-Era Sculpture

By Max Kalish

Located in New York, NY

Max Kalish The Road Builder inscribed M. KALISH 23, with Meroni-Radice foundry mark, on top of base bronze with dark brown patina, on an ebonized rectangular plinth Height: 13 1/8 in. not including base Provenance: Spanierman Gallery, New York BIO Max Kalish (1891 – 1945) Born in Poland March 1, 1891, figurative sculptor Max Kalish came to the United States in 1894, his family settling in Ohio. A talented youth, Kalish enrolled at the Cleveland Institute of Art as a fifteen-year-old, receiving a first-place award for modeling the figure during studies with Herman Matzen. Kalish went to New York City following graduation, studying with Isidore Konti and Herbert Adams...

Category

1920s American Realist Max Kalish Art

Materials

Bronze

Related Items
Bronze Sculpture “Understander”
Bronze Sculpture “Understander”

Bronze Sculpture “Understander”

By Frank Arnold

Located in Fresno, CA

Frank Arnold is thought by many to be one of the foremost abstract figurative painters and sculptors of our time. He is a living master whose work is considered to be both personal a...

Category

2010s Abstract Max Kalish Art

Materials

Bronze

Barabbas Bronze Sculpture Unique Figurative Abstract Head Contemporary
Barabbas Bronze Sculpture Unique Figurative Abstract Head Contemporary

Barabbas Bronze Sculpture Unique Figurative Abstract Head Contemporary

By Thomas Junghans

Located in Utrecht, NL

Barabbas Bronze Sculpture Unique Figurative Abstract Head Portrait Contemporary Barabbas is a bronze figurative, abstract head, portrait. Junghans (1956, Recklinghausen) creates abs...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Max Kalish Art

Materials

Bronze

"Female"
"Female"

Michael Patterson"Female", 2013

$3,200

H 20 in W 13.5 in D 9 in

"Female"

By Michael Patterson

Located in Southampton, NY

Wonderful original granite sculpture by well known contemporary artist Michael Patterson. This work of the female form was completed in 2013. The sculpture is attached to a white m...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Max Kalish Art

Materials

Stone

Bronze sculpture of 'Rapunzel' from German fairytale by Carl Payne
Bronze sculpture of 'Rapunzel' from German fairytale by Carl Payne

Bronze sculpture of 'Rapunzel' from German fairytale by Carl Payne

By Carl Payne

Located in Shrewsbury, Shropshire

A stunning Nude Bronze Sculpture 'Rapunzel' with inspiration taken from the German fairytale. Continuing a successful career in England and Ireland, Carl joined Callaghan Fine Paintings and Works of Art at the beginning of 2004 in order to dedicate his time to create and develop stunning individual contemporary sculpture. Carl is a Staffordshire based sculptor for whom art has played a large part in his academic work taking him through the Burslem School of Art, the Henry Doulton School of Sculpture and then to Stafford College. After qualifying in Figurative Sculpture he launched his career with commission after commission, which has now secured his reputation for fine quality workmanship both in life-size format and smaller decorative pieces. The list of his completed commissioned work is extensive, including many ‘house-hold’ names from the sporting world, commerce and the past. The following are just some of the private and publicly commissioned completed works that form Carl’s prestigious portfolio:- King George 5th and Queen Mary – life size portrait buste commissioned by Cunards Cruise Ships and located in the ballroom of the Queen Mary 2 (QM2) cruise ship. Randolph Turpin – life size and a quarter - commissioned by Warwick and Leamington Spa Council located in Warwick Town Centre, Sir Stanley Matthews – life size and a half - commissioned by the Sir Stanley Matthews Foundation located at The Britannia Stadium. The Stadium of Light - life size group of figures – commissioned by Sunderland Football Club...

Category

20th Century Modern Max Kalish Art

Materials

Bronze

Antique Bronze Dog "Whippet with a Butterfly" Arthur Waagen (1833-1898) 2 of 2
Antique Bronze Dog "Whippet with a Butterfly" Arthur Waagen (1833-1898) 2 of 2

Antique Bronze Dog "Whippet with a Butterfly" Arthur Waagen (1833-1898) 2 of 2

By Arthur Waagen

Located in SANTA FE, NM

Antique Bronze Dog Portrait “La Levrette au Papillon” or “Whippet (Greyhound) with a Butterfly”   Arthur Waagen (Germany, France 1833-1898) Circa 1860’s 11 x 8 x 4  inches (2of 2. No...

Category

1860s Academic Max Kalish Art

Materials

Bronze

Jean-Léon Gérôme  La Danseuse au Cerceau - Gilt Bronze Statue of a Hoop Dancer
Jean-Léon Gérôme  La Danseuse au Cerceau - Gilt Bronze Statue of a Hoop Dancer

Jean-Léon Gérôme La Danseuse au Cerceau - Gilt Bronze Statue of a Hoop Dancer

By Jean-Léon Gérôme

Located in New York, NY

Jean-Léon Gérôme French 1824 - 1904 La Joueuse De Cerceau - The Hoop Dancer A mini gilt bronze female figural statue of a young hoop dancer inspired by a trove of ancient terraco...

Category

19th Century Academic Max Kalish Art

Materials

Bronze

1961 Coty Award Plaque Kenneth  Hairdresser Jacqueline Onassis Bronze Fashion
1961 Coty Award Plaque Kenneth  Hairdresser Jacqueline Onassis Bronze Fashion

1961 Coty Award Plaque Kenneth Hairdresser Jacqueline Onassis Bronze Fashion

Located in New York, NY

1961 Coty Award Plaque Kenneth Hairdresser Jacqueline Onassis Bronze Fashion Bronze on wood. The wood plaque measures 12 3/4" by 20 3/4 inches. The bronze plaque itself is 13 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches and the the bronze inscription, which reads "COTY, American Fashion Critics Special Award 1961 to KENNETH of LILY DACHE...

Category

1960s American Modern Max Kalish Art

Materials

Bronze

“Enlevement des Sabines”
“Enlevement des Sabines”

Marius Jean Antonin Mercié“Enlevement des Sabines”, Circa 1885

$3,040Sale Price|20% Off

H 18 in W 6.25 in D 6.25 in

“Enlevement des Sabines”

By Marius Jean Antonin Mercié

Located in Southampton, NY

Here for your consideration is a beautiful highly detailed bronze done in the forth quarter of the nineteen century after the work of Jean Boulogne, known as Giambologna. Boulogne’s sculpture was done in marble and was completed between 1579 and 1583. The sculptor of this bronze is Antonin Mercie, a well known French sculptor born in 1845. The bronze represents the Rape of the Sabine Women (Latin: Sabinae raptae), also known as the Abduction of the Sabine Women or the Kidnapping of the Sabine Women, was an incident in Roman mythology in which the men of Rome committed a mass abduction of young women from the other cities in the region. It has been a frequent subject of artists and sculptors, particularly during the Renaissance and post-Renaissance eras. Signed on base “Mercie” for Antonin Mercie.. In very good condition wirh original brown patina. The base which depicts rocks is bronze and has been painted a matt black. Provenance:: A Sarasota estate. Mercié, (Marius Jean Antonin Mercie...

Category

1880s Academic Max Kalish Art

Materials

Bronze

Woman - XXI century Contemporary figurative bronze sculpture, Classical, Realism
Woman - XXI century Contemporary figurative bronze sculpture, Classical, Realism

Woman - XXI century Contemporary figurative bronze sculpture, Classical, Realism

By Ryszard Piotrowski

Located in Warsaw, PL

RYSZARD PIOTROWSKI (born in 1952) Sculptor. He graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. His works include intimate, small forms in marble, bronze and silver. He specializes...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Max Kalish Art

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Early 19th century Romantic marble sculpture - Kiss figures
Early 19th century Romantic marble sculpture - Kiss figures

Early 19th century Romantic marble sculpture - Kiss figures, c.1830

$1,776Sale Price|40% Off

H 7.88 in W 5.91 in D 7.88 in

Early 19th century Romantic marble sculpture - Kiss figures

Located in Varmo, IT

White marble sculpture - The Kiss. ​​19th century. 15 x 20 x h 20 cm including base, 12 x 17 x h 18 cm excluding base. Entirely in white marble, some small breaks and repairs. - ...

Category

Early 19th Century Romantic Max Kalish Art

Materials

Marble

Aquila Bronze Sculpture Nude Boy Marble Stone Contemporary In Stock
Aquila Bronze Sculpture Nude Boy Marble Stone Contemporary In Stock

Aquila Bronze Sculpture Nude Boy Marble Stone Contemporary In Stock

By Wim van der Kant

Located in Utrecht, NL

Aquila Bronze Sculpture Nude Boy Marble Stone Contemporary In Stock - Sculpture without Stone is 57 cm high Wim van der Kant (1949, Kampen) is a selftaught a...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Max Kalish Art

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Previously Available Items
"Steel Worker" Bronze Sculpture from the artist's Labor Series
"Steel Worker" Bronze Sculpture from the artist's Labor Series

"Steel Worker" Bronze Sculpture from the artist's Labor Series

By Max Kalish

Located in New York, NY

"Steel Worker" Bronze Sculpture from the artist's Labor Series LITERATURE: "Walt Whitman of Sculpture," New York Post, November 19, 1926 (another example illustrated); New York Hera...

Category

1920s American Modern Max Kalish Art

Materials

Bronze

Max Kalish art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Max Kalish art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Max Kalish in bronze, metal, marble and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the modern style. Not every interior allows for large Max Kalish art, so small editions measuring 8 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Dudley Vaill Talcott, Stanley Bleifeld, and Michael Ayrton. Max Kalish art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $10,450 and tops out at $36,000, while the average work can sell for $22,500.

Artists Similar to Max Kalish