Alexander Calder's Mobiles

American Abstract Sculptor, 1898-1976

Alexander Calder’s mobiles range from tiny to huge in scale, from colorful to monochromatic, from simple to complex. His archive includes paintings, sculptures, toys, etc. but here we’re focusing on the mobiles he is most well-known for. They move only by the environment around them (not made to move on their own, but impacted by the air). Calder created small versions before expanding to monumental sculptures, considering both finished artworks in the end.

These mobiles are in many collections around the world, public and private. You’ve most likely been around one and not even realized it (see installations below!).

Alexander Calder, The Ghost (1964), Philadelphia Museum of Art, PA

Calder, Rouge triomphant (1963), Nahmad Collection; installation photo, “Calder Stories,” Centro Botin, Santander, Spain:

Calder, Louisa’s 43rd Birthday Present (1948), Calder Foundation, New York

Calder, Untitled (1976), National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC

Calder, Untitled (Maquette for Chase Manhattan Bank) (1959), Chase Manhattan Bank, New York

Calder, Mobile (1980), Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Calder, Pittsburgh (1958), Pittsburgh International Airport

Calder, Hanging Spider (1940), Whitney Museum of American Art, New York

Calder, London (1962), The National Museum of Art, Osaka

Calder, Spirale (1958), Palais de l’UNESCO, Paris

Calder, White Cascade (1975), Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

Calder, Eléments démontables (1974), Calder Foundation, New York

Calder, White Ordinary (1976), Private Collection, New York

Calder in his studio, Roxbury, Connecticut

Read more

Introduction to Calder, by the Calder Foundation

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