Calder and Abstraction: From Avant-Garde to Iconic

by Stephanie Barron (Contributor), Ilene Susan Fort, Aleca Le Blanc

Alexander Calder's most beloved creations--from his mobiles to his public sculpture--are examined from every angle in this stunning book. Widely considered one of the most important artists of the 20th century, Alexander Calder revolutionized modern sculpture--most significantly with his kinetic works, for which Marcel Duchamp coined the term "mobiles." Later in his career, Calder created enormous versions of these floating abstractions. Their arching forms, dynamic surfaces, and sheer mass reflected his fascination with engineering and technology. This book focuses on Calder's earlier, interior-scaled works, which paved the way for the public works that continue to fascinate viewers around the world. Filled with images of Calder's elegant, colorful, floating shapes, this volume offers a number of critical texts that enrich our understanding of this innovative artist. Together with an illustrated exhibition chronology and bibliography, this in-depth and highly engaging volume offers something for every fan of Calder's work.

Genres: Art

208 pages, Hardcover

First published November 25, 2013

About the author

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Stephanie Barron is chief curator of modern and contemporary art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. During her thirty-two years at LACMA, she has been responsible for several international loan exhibitions, including “The Avant-Garde in Russia: 1910-1930,” “German Expressionist Sculpture,” “David Hockney: A Retrospective,” “German Expressionism 1915-1925: The Second Generation,” “Exiles and Émigrés: The Flight of European Artists from Hitler,” and "Art of Two Germanys/Cold War Cultures". She co-organized LACMA’s millennium project, “Made in California: Art, Image, and Identity, 1900-2000.” Barron has received the Order of Merit First Class and the Commander’s Cross from the German government, the John J. McCloy Fellowship, and an NEA Fellowship for museum professionals. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.