Skip to Content

The Arts Intel Report

Alexander Calder: Modern from the Start

Mar 14 – Aug 7, 2021
11 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019, United States

Alexander Calder and New York’s Museum of Modern Art are inextricably linked. A revolutionary departure from prevailing sculptural tradition, Calder’s unmistakable mobiles are a mainstay of MoMA’s permanent collection. As the artist famously explained, “Just as one can compose colors, or forms, so one can compose motions.” His hanging artworks reflect this, achieving a dynamic quality, and requiring 360-degree viewing in order to be fully appreciated. This exhibition, drawn mostly from MoMA’s holdings and bolstered by key works from the Calder Foundation, follows the arc of Calder’s development through the filter of MoMA’s involvement. —Sabina Vitale

Alexander Calder, “Sandy’s Butterfly,” 1964. The Museum of Modern Art, New York © 2021 Calder Foundation, New York/Artists Rights Society, New York.