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Alexander Calder: American, 1898-1976

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Alexander Calder American, 1898-1976

  • Biography
  • Notable Honors and Commissions
  • Exhibitions
  • Art Fairs
  • Publications
  • Archival
  • News
  • Inquire
  • Biography
    Alexander Calder

    Alexander Calder (1898–1976) received a degree in mechanical engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey before studying at the Art Students League in New York between 1923 and 1925. In 1926, Calder had his first solo exhibition of paintings and shortly after began creating a miniature circus made from wood and wire figures—a project he completed in 1931. That same year, Calder began constructing what would become his most iconic innovation: “mobiles”—abstract sculptures with moving parts. Calder’s practice was notably cross-disciplinary, defying conventional boundaries between painting and sculpture. Over the course of his career, he designed sets for theater, music, and dance; collaborated on films; illustrated books; and produced wallpaper, fabrics, costumes, and even designs for cars and airplanes. He also actively supported humanitarian causes. Calder's enterprising outlook was in many ways connected to his enthusiasm for travel.

  • Notable Honors and Commissions

    Spanish Pavilion at the Paris World’s Fair (1937)
    First prize, Rohm and Haas Plexiglass Sculpture Competition (1939)
    Outstanding Citizen Award, City of Philadelphia (1955)
    Major commissions for the Brussels World’s Fair, the UNESCO building in Paris, and Idlewild (now JFK) Airport in New York (all 1958)
    First prize at the Carnegie International Exhibition (1958)
    Gold Medal, Architectural League of New York (1960)
    Election to the National Institute of Arts and Letters, New York (1960)
    Medal from the American Institute of Architects (1961)
    Art in America Award for Outstanding Contribution to American Art (1962)
    Election to the American Academy of Arts and Letters (1964)
    Named Chairman of Artists for SANE (1965)
    Honorary Doctor of Art, Harvard University (1966)
    Honorary Doctor of Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology (1969)
    Gold Medal for Sculpture, Academy of Arts and Letters (1971)
    Grand Prix National des Arts et Lettres, France (1975)
    U.N. Peace Medal (1975)
    Bicentennial Artist Award, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York (1976)

  • Exhibitions
    • 55 Years

      55 Years

      Isn't That Long Enough? Jun 26 – Aug 14, 2025
      Featuring paintings, works on paper, sculpture, film, and archival ephemera from the SFMOMA Library, and SFAI archive, this ambitious exhibition showcases museum-quality works by contemporary and historical artists, illustrating Berggruen...
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    • Contemporary & Modern Masters

      Contemporary & Modern Masters

      Mar 6 – Apr 24, 2025
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    • Looking Back: 45 Years

      Looking Back: 45 Years

      Oct 8 – Dec 19, 2015
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    • Paintings, Drawings, and Sculpture

      Paintings, Drawings, and Sculpture

      Aug 6 – 28, 2010
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    • Independent Visions

      Independent Visions

      American Paintings, Drawings, and Sculpture Jul 31 – Aug 31, 2009
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  • Art Fairs
    • The Armory Show

      The Armory Show

      New York City, New York Sep 4 – 7, 2025
      Berggruen Gallery is proud to participate in The Armory Show 2025. Please visit us at Booth 400 at the Javits Center in New York. Tickets...
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    • Art Basel Miami Beach

      Art Basel Miami Beach

      Miami Beach, Florida Dec 2 – 5, 2010
      John Berggruen Gallery is pleased to participate in Art Basel Miami Beach 2011, at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Please stop by our booth. We...
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    • Art Basel

      Art Basel

      Basel, Switzerland Jun 16 – 20, 2010
      John Berggruen Gallery is pleased to announce our participation in Art |41| Basel. Please visit us at booth is C5 in Hall 2.0 Art |41|...
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    • ADAA Art Show

      ADAA Art Show

      New York City, New York Mar 3 – 7, 2010
      The annual Art Dealers Association of America's art fair in New York, the 'Art Show,' will be held at the Park Avenue Armory from Wednesday,...
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    • Art Basel

      Art Basel

      Basel, Switzerland Jun 10 – 14, 2009
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    • Art Basel Miami Beach

      Art Basel Miami Beach

      Miami Beach, Florida Dec 7 – 10, 2006
      John Berggruen Gallery is pleased to announce our participation in Art Basel Miami Beach. Please visit our booth at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
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    • Art Basel

      Art Basel

      Basel, Switzerland Jun 14 – 18, 2006
      John Berggruen Gallery is pleased to announce our participation in Art |37| Basel.
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    • ADAA The Art Show

      ADAA The Art Show

      New York City, New York Mar 2 – 6, 2006
      Berggruen Gallery is pleased to announce its participation in The Art Show organized annually by the Art Dealers Association of America (ADAA) at the Park...
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    • Art Basel

      Art Basel

      Basel, Switzerland Jun 18 – 23, 2003
      John Berggruen Gallery is pleased to announce our participation in Art |34| Basel.
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  • Publications
    • Berggruen Gallery: 50 Years

      Berggruen Gallery: 50 Years

      1970 – 2020 2020
      Hardcover, clothbound and slipcased, 465 pages
      Publisher: Berggruen Gallery, San Francisco
      ISBN: 978-0-578-60871-6
      Dimensions: 9 1/2 x 12 1/4 x 2 inches
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  • Archival

    John Berggruen and Alexander Calder (Larger version of this image opens in a popup).
    Numbered 8 to 11, 1960  Sheet metal and steel wire, black oil paint  62 x 87 inches (Larger version of this image opens in a popup).
    Archival announcements. Installation view of vitrine in 55 Years exhibition at Berggruen Gallery, 2025. (Larger version of this image opens in a popup).
    Installation view of Alexander Calder exhibition at John Berggruen Gallery, April, 2006 (Larger version of this image opens in a popup).
    Hanging Apricot, 1947  Sheet metal, wire and paint  62 x 60 inches (Larger version of this image opens in a popup).
    Installation view of Alexander Calder exhibition at John Berggruen Gallery (Larger version of this image opens in a popup).
    Installation view of Alexander Calder exhibition at John Berggruen Gallery (Larger version of this image opens in a popup).
    Installation view of Alexander Calder exhibition at John Berggruen Gallery (Larger version of this image opens in a popup).
    Pic Jaune, 1973  Sheet metal, wire and paint  45 1/2 x 62 x 20 inches (Larger version of this image opens in a popup).
    Announcement card for Alexander Calder exhibition at John Berggruen Gallery, 1971. (Larger version of this image opens in a popup).

    John Berggruen and Alexander Calder

  • News
    • 9 Great Bay Area art shows to see right now

      9 Great Bay Area art shows to see right now

      San Francisco Standard | Sam Mondros July 11, 2025
      Berggruen is celebrating its 55th anniversary with a landmark exhibition tracing its legacy as a powerhouse of modern and contemporary art. The show features paintings,...
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    • Gallery Chat: John Berggruen, Preeminent San Francisco Art Dealer for 47 Years on the New Space Near SFMOMA, San Francisco’s Contemporary Art Market and More

      Gallery Chat: John Berggruen, Preeminent San Francisco Art Dealer for 47 Years on the New Space Near SFMOMA, San Francisco’s Contemporary Art Market and More

      The Art Dealers Association of America | By Nicole Casamento June 13, 2017
      John Berggruen Gallery’s history is synonymous with the growth of San Francisco’s art market. Though Berggruen started his eponymous gallery with just $5,000 worth of...
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    • Small Judd show provides just a taste of his ambition

      Small Judd show provides just a taste of his ambition

      San Francisco Chronicle | By Kenneth Baker May 13, 2006
      For several weeks, until its contemporary art auction Tuesday evening, Christie's had on view one of the great spring exhibitions in New York: 37 sculptures...
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  • Inquire

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Contact

Berggruen Gallery
10 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA
94105

 

 

Business Hours:
Mon – Fri, 10AM – 5PM

 

 

info@berggruen.com
Tel:+1.415.781.46.29


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