Alexander Calder an American Artist

Alexander Calder , an American Sculpture that is considered to be one of the most important American artist, was born July 22, 1898 and lived a good long life passing at the age of 78 Calder created colorful whimsical abstract public sculptures and innovative mobiles. \

Calder was born to be an artist as his family all ready had shown accomplishment in the area of art. It was in Paris during the 1930s that Calder first had his work recognized and soon after was spotlighted in the Museum of Modern Art i New York as well. Throughout the years his work would be showcased in many museums and shows.

Calder created many large and permanent pieces that could not be moved once created. He has been sad to have a restless creative spirit that led his art skills of sculpting , painting , and printmaking to name just a few areas of art that Calder has excelled in.


Alexander Calder was born in Lawrence Pennsylvania. HIs grandfather, Alexander Milne Calder was from Scotland and immigrated to Philadelphia in 1868 and became a successful sculpture. Among his great works was the William Penn statue on top of Philadelphia City Hall. Calder's father also a sculpture created many pieces around Philadelphia and his mother was a portrait artist. 

In 1987 the Calder Foundation was formed by the children of Calder. The foundation has dedicated itself to the collecting, exhibiting, preserving and interpreting the art of Alexander Calder Currently there are 600 sculptures that includes mobiles, stabliles, standing mobiles and wire sculptures There are also 32 monumental outdoor works and thousands of oil paintings. In addition paper work, toys, jewelry and domestic objects are listed in the collection