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

Jack Banham Coggins (1911 - 2006)
Jack Banham Coggins
1911 - 2006
Julie Blackmon (1966)
Julie Blackmon
1966
George Catlin (1796 - 1872)
George Catlin
1796 - 1872
William Henry Rinehart (1825 - 1874)
William Henry Rinehart
1825 - 1874
Toby Edward Rosenthal (1848 - 1917)
Toby Edward Rosenthal
1848 - 1917
Julie Beers (1834 - 1913)
Julie Beers
1834 - 1913
Wafaa Bilal (1966)
Wafaa Bilal
1966
George Caleb Bingham (1811 - 1879)
George Caleb Bingham
1811 - 1879
Floyd Gottfredson (1905 - 1986)
Floyd Gottfredson
1905 - 1986
Hans Haacke (1936)
Hans Haacke
1936
Lloyd Wright (1890 - 1978)
Lloyd Wright
1890 - 1978
Vera Lutter (1960)
Vera Lutter
1960
Edward Kienholz (1927 - 1994)
Edward Kienholz
1927 - 1994
Jammie Holmes (1984)
Jammie Holmes
1984
Erik Parker (1968)
Erik Parker
1968
Patricia Buckley Moss (1933 - 2024)
Patricia Buckley Moss
1933 - 2024

Creators Abstract Expressionism

Richard Sapper (1932 - 2015)
Richard Sapper
1932 - 2015
Duncan Grant (1885 - 1978)
Duncan Grant
1885 - 1978
Nikolay Ivanovich Osenev (1909 - 1983)
Nikolay Ivanovich Osenev
1909 - 1983
Alexander Young Jackson (1882 - 1974)
Alexander Young Jackson
1882 - 1974
Eduardo Afonso Viana (1881 - 1967)
Eduardo Afonso Viana
1881 - 1967
Werner Buser (1928 - 1994)
Werner Buser
1928 - 1994
Elisabeth Sonrel (1874 - 1953)
Elisabeth Sonrel
1874 - 1953
Galina Dmitrievna Shuliak (1944 - 2021)
Galina Dmitrievna Shuliak
1944 - 2021
Rolf Glasmeier (1945 - 2003)
Rolf Glasmeier
1945 - 2003
Yang Yuyu (1926 - 1997)
Yang Yuyu
1926 - 1997
Jacques Prevert (1900 - 1977)
Jacques Prevert
1900 - 1977
Judy Rifka (1945)
Judy Rifka
1945
Genia Minache (1906 - 1972)
Genia Minache
1906 - 1972
Hans Arnold Zeller (1897 - 1983)
Hans Arnold Zeller
1897 - 1983
Ernest Hubert (1899 - 1988)
Ernest Hubert
1899 - 1988
Vu Cao Dam (1908 - 2000)
Vu Cao Dam
1908 - 2000
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