1898 Philadelphia
1976 New York

Although Alexander Calder grew up in an atmosphere open to the arts he decided to become an engineer, graduating in 1919. He joined the Art Students League (New York) in 1923 where he took drawings lessons. Calder then worked as a press artist for the National Police Gazette. He came into contact with the world of the circus in 1925. Calder was so fascinated with this environment that he knew he had found the motifs and subject matter for his work. His first drawings and paintings were exhibited in his first exhibition in 1926 at The Artists Gallery, New York. Very soon Calder began transforming his drawings into wire sculptures, a major step which was vital for his further artistic development. In 1927 Calder caused quite a stir with animals made of wire and corks. He made an entire miniature circus with these mechanical toys. Calder went to Paris in 1930 where he met Marcel Duchamp and Hans Arp. Duchamp named Calder's motor-driven sculptures 'Mobiles', Arp created the term 'Stabiles' for his immovable objects. Calder returned to the USA in 1934. During the late 1930s he worked on numerous Mobiles and Stabiles as well as monumental sculptures made of heavy metal plates. In 1946 he went on his first post-war trip to France - many more were to follow before he settled there in 1954. The Guggenheim Museum in New York and the Musée National d'Art Moderne in Paris organised a large retrospective exhibition in 1964/65. At the same time Calder also worked on several stage settings for the Paris opera and other theatres. He received many awards, such as the Great Prize for sculpture at the Biennale in Venice and the Carnegie prize in Pittsburgh.

Calder, A.

Calder, A.

Calder, A.

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