Alexander Calder - Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Jasmine

Examines the life and work of Alexander Calder, a twentieth-century artist best known for creating moving sculptures called mobiles. Traces Calder’s early fascination with stars, planets, and how machines work, and describes how he used abstract metal shapes and favorite colors in his mobiles. Also covers his still sculptures, known as stabiles, and the family environment that shaped his artistic development.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages36

Reading Time55 min

AccessFree to download

Alexander Calder - Early Life and Inspirations

Mobiles and Abstract Metal Shapes

Stabiles and Still Sculptures

Family Background and Artistic Growth

WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY MIKE VENEZIA # A L E X A N D E RCALDER HP BR J CALDER A # Boston Public Library GETTING TO KNOW THE WORLD'S GREATEST ARTISTS A L E X A N D E RCALDER WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY MIKE VENEZIA CHILDREN'S PRESSA DIVISION OF GROLIER PUBLISHINGNEWYORK LONDON HONG KONG SYDNEYDANBURY,CONNECTICUT To Naomi Rebecca,a brand new work of art,with love. AL BR J N6537 .C33 V46 1998 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Venezia,Mike. Alexander Calder /written and illustrated by Mike Venezia. P.cm.一(Cetting to know the world's greatest artists) Includes bibliographical references and index Summary:Examines the life and work of the twentieth-centuryartist Alexander Calder,famous for creating the moving sculpturesknown as mobiles. ISBN 0-516-20966-3(lib.bdg) 0-516-26400-1 (pbk.) 1.Calder,Alexander.1898-1976—Juvenile literature.2.Artists一United States—Biography-Juvenile literature.[1.Calder,Alexander,1898-1976.2.Artists]L Title.IISeriesVenezia,Mike.Getting to know the world's greatest artists.N66537.C33V4619987092—dc21[B] 98-18832 CIP AC VisitChildren's Press on the Internet at: http://publishing grolier.com Photograph of AlexanderCalder,by MarvinW.Schwartz,C MarvinW.Schwartz, Alexander Calder was born in Lawnton,Pennsylvania,in 1898.From the time hewas a little boy,he was fascinated by thestars and planets and how machines worked.Alexander Calder invented a brand-new,fun,and exciting art using the things thatinterested him. La Bouee Bleze,by Alexander Calder.Painted sheet metal.240cm.Christie's Images.Photograph OSuperStock,Ine Alexander,who was always called Sandyby his friends and family,was best knownfor his moving sculptures,called mobiles. Sandy usually made his mobiles out of abstractmetal shapes and painted them with his favorite colors. La Grande Vitesse,by Alexander Calder.Photograph by Maynard Williams,C SuperStock,Ine. Sandy also made sculptures that stood still.These were called stabiles.Some stabiles areas tall as buildings. Sandy Calder grew up in the perfect familyin which to be an artist.Both his father andgrandfather were famous sculptors,and hismother was an excellent painter. Mr.and Mrs.Calder had lots of artist friends,too.Sandy got used to having artists around allthe time.At a very early age,he was able to seehow paintings and sculptures were created. The Calder family moved all over the UnitedStates while Sandy and his older sister,Peggy,were growing up.They had to be near the citiesand towns where Mr.Calder found workcreating sculptures.Wherever they moved,Sandy kept busy making toys for himself andPeggy.He found old buttons,cloth,bits of string,and wire,and used them to make all kinds ofthings. Toys (installation view).by Alexander Calder.1904-40.Mixed media.Dimensions variable.University of California.Berkeley Art Museum,gifs of Calder Hayes and Margaret Calder Hayes.Photograph by Benjamin Blackwell

FAQs

Who is Alexander Calder and what is he famous for?

Alexander Calder is a twentieth-century artist famous for creating moving sculptures called mobiles.

What are mobiles, according to the document?

Mobiles are Calder’s moving sculptures, usually made from abstract metal shapes painted with his favorite colors.

What are stabiles?

Stabiles are Calder’s sculptures that stand still, and some were as tall as buildings.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Jasmine