Alexander Calder

Alexander Calder, an American sculptor known for his innovative mobiles and monumental public sculptures, was born on July 22, 1898, in Lawnton, Pennsylvania. Calder was the son of artist parents and showed a keen interest in creating objects from a young age. He went on to redefine the art of sculpture with his abstract kinetic works that responded to air currents.

In 1926, while living in Paris, Alexander Calder created his first kinetic sculpture, a wire construction that he could animate by hand or motor. This marked the beginning of his exploration into movement, which would become a central theme in his work. Calder's kinetic sculptures broke new ground in the art world, paving the way for the creation of mobiles, which would earn him international acclaim.

In 1931, Marcel Duchamp coined the term 'mobile' to describe the new type of kinetic sculptures created by Alexander Calder. These sculptures, which moved naturally without motors, revolutionized modern sculpture by introducing actual movement into the static art form. Calder's mobiles could be seen as nothing less than a new kind of garden at a zenith of modernism.

In 1937, Alexander Calder contributed a major work to the Spanish Pavilion of the Paris World's Fair. His Mercury Fountain was created to complement Pablo Picasso's iconic Guernica, making it an important political and artistic statement. The fountain used liquid mercury to flow in graceful arcs, reflecting Calder's mastery of fluid dynamics in his artistic practice.

Alexander Calder was featured prominently at the 1952 'Sculpture International' Exhibition held in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. During this time, Calder was recognized for his contributions to abstract sculpture and was celebrated for bringing a new understanding of space and motion to fine art. His work at the exhibition demonstrated the elegance and innovative use of materials and engineering.

In 1957, Calder created one of his most iconic works, 'Black, White, and Ten Red.' This mobile sculpture combined stark colors and kinetic balance, showing Calder's exceptional skill in controlling movement and space. 'Black, White, and Ten Red' demonstrated his mastery in combining the principles of sculpture with elements of engineering and design.

Alexander Calder's La Grande Vitesse, an ambitious civic sculpture located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was inaugurated in 1973. As a monumental stabile, the artwork was acclaimed for its bold color and organic shape, reflecting Calder's flair for creating large-scale public art. It was the first public artwork in the United States to be funded with the National Endowment for the Arts program's support.

Alexander Calder passed away suddenly at age 78 on November 11, 1976, just days after the opening of a major retrospective at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. Calder's death marked the loss of one of the most influential figures in modern art, known for his innovative contributions to sculpture and his ability to incorporate the element of movement into his works.

The year 1998 marked the centennial of Alexander Calder's birth, with worldwide celebrations and retrospectives of his work. Museums and galleries across the globe hosted exhibitions honoring Calder's legacy and his firm place in 20th-century art history as a pioneer of kinetic sculpture. These events highlighted Calder's enduring influence on contemporary art and his innovative spirit.

In October 2014, the Tate Modern in London opened a major retrospective of Alexander Calder's work, examining his innovative contributions to sculpture and art in the 20th century. The exhibition featured works spanning Calder's career, highlighting his unique approach to combining art with science, engineering, and design. The retrospective reinforced Calder's status as a pivotal figure in modern art.