Alexander Calder (1898 - 1976)

Alexander Calder (1898 - 1976) - photo 1

Alexander Calder

Alexander Calder was an American artist celebrated for his revolutionary contributions to modern sculpture, including his invention of the mobile. Born into a family of artists on July 22, 1898, in Lawnton, Pennsylvania, and passing away on November 11, 1976, in New York, Calder harnessed his background in mechanical engineering to create kinetic sculptures that moved with air currents, alongside his monumental stationary sculptures known as "stabiles"​​​​.

Calder's early life was marked by his creation of toys and various objects, showcasing his inherent talent and creativity from a young age. Despite initially pursuing a career in mechanical engineering, Calder's true calling in the arts was undeniable. He moved to New York City, where he enrolled at the Art Students League, laying the groundwork for his iconic artistic style​​. In 1926, Calder relocated to Paris, which became a pivotal moment in his career, leading to the creation of "Calder's Circus," a whimsical assembly of wire figures that gained him entry into the avant-garde art circles of Europe​​.

Throughout the 1930s and beyond, Calder's work evolved from figurative painting to abstract sculptures that brought motion into the realm of art, a transition influenced by his visit to Piet Mondrian's studio. His innovative mobiles and stabiles were celebrated for their ingenuity and aesthetic appeal, earning Calder international recognition and numerous accolades​​. Among his well-known public commissions are the .125 mobile for John F. Kennedy Airport and the monumental red-painted steel stabile, "Flamingo," for the Federal Center Plaza in Chicago​​.

Calder's legacy extends far beyond his sculptures; his work encompassed painting, printmaking, jewelry design, and even set and costume design for theatre productions. His influence on modern art is profound, inspiring future generations of artists to explore the kinetic possibilities of sculpture​​.

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Date and place of birt:22 july 1898, Lawnton, USA
Date and place of death:11 november 1976, New York City, USA
Nationality:USA
Period of activity: XX century
Specialization:Artist, Designer, Sculptor
Genre:Allegory
Art style:Abstract art, Abstract Expressionism, Kinetic art, Modern art, Post War Art

Creators USA

Elihu Vedder (1836 - 1923)
Elihu Vedder
1836 - 1923
Anne Bremer (1868 - 1923)
Anne Bremer
1868 - 1923
Anton Gutknecht (1907 - 1988)
Anton Gutknecht
1907 - 1988
Jack Pierson (1960)
Jack Pierson
1960
Abbott Fuller Graves (1859 - 1936)
Abbott Fuller Graves
1859 - 1936
John McNamara (1950)
John McNamara
1950
Jim Dine (1935)
Jim Dine
1935
Beauford Delaney (1901 - 1979)
Beauford Delaney
1901 - 1979
William Leach (1881 - 1968)
William Leach
1881 - 1968
Joseph Cornell (1903 - 1972)
Joseph Cornell
1903 - 1972
Tony Robbin (1943)
Tony Robbin
1943
Clark Mills (1810 - 1883)
Clark Mills
1810 - 1883
Frederick Sommer (1905 - 1999)
Frederick Sommer
1905 - 1999
Mario Morel Agostinelli (1915 - 2000)
Mario Morel Agostinelli
1915 - 2000
Rufus Hathaway (1770 - 1822)
Rufus Hathaway
1770 - 1822
Ernest Martin Hennings II (1886 - 1956)
Ernest Martin Hennings II
1886 - 1956

Creators Abstract Expressionism

Leland Bell (1922 - 1991)
Leland Bell
1922 - 1991
Arun Bose (1934 - 2007)
Arun Bose
1934 - 2007
Albert Bitran (1931 - 2018)
Albert Bitran
1931 - 2018
Otto Herbig (1889 - 1971)
Otto Herbig
1889 - 1971
Kwame Brathwaite (1938 - 2023)
Kwame Brathwaite
1938 - 2023
Torey Thornton (1990)
Torey Thornton
1990
Tom Walter Hops (1906 - 1976)
Tom Walter Hops
1906 - 1976
 Gilbert & George (XX century)
Gilbert & George
XX century
Duilio Barnabe (1914 - 1961)
Duilio Barnabe
1914 - 1961
Sargent Claude Johnson (1888 - 1967)
Sargent Claude Johnson
1888 - 1967
Ludwig Wilhelm Grossmann (1894 - 1960)
Ludwig Wilhelm Grossmann
1894 - 1960
Johannes Holst (1880 - 1965)
Johannes Holst
1880 - 1965
Bimal Dasgupta (1917 - 1995)
Bimal Dasgupta
1917 - 1995
Manoucher Yektai (1921 - 2019)
Manoucher Yektai
1921 - 2019
Tony Costa (1935 - 2013)
Tony Costa
1935 - 2013
Maurice Haddad (1937)
Maurice Haddad
1937
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