Alexander Calder Thought 'It Would Be Fun' to Set Abstract Art in Motion. His Mesmerizing Mobiles Transformed the Definition of Sculpture
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A new exhibition at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris showcases 300 works by sculptor Alexander Calder, highlighting his innovative kinetic art. The exhibition commemorates 100 years since Calder's arrival in France and 50 years since his death. It features a range of his sculptures, paintings, and works by his contemporaries, emphasizing Calder's unique contribution to 20th-century art.
- ▪The exhibition is titled 'Calder: Dreaming in Equilibrium' and spans over 30,000 square feet.
- ▪It includes both mobiles and stabiles, as well as works by artists like Pablo Picasso and Barbara Hepworth.
- ▪Calder's early works, including his first kinetic sculptures, are displayed chronologically, starting with two small animal figurines he made at age 11.
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Alexander Calder Thought ‘It Would Be Fun’ to Set Abstract Art in Motion. His Mesmerizing Mobiles Transformed the Definition of Sculpture A new exhibition at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris spotlights 300 of the sculptor’s groundbreaking kinetic artworks, large-scale public sculptures, paintings, drawings and wire portraits Ellen Wexler | Writer and Special Projects Editor April 28, 2026 ShareCopy linkEmailSMSFacebookXRedditLinkedInBlueskyPrintAdd as preferred source Sculptor Alexander Calder and one of his mobiles Bettmann via Getty Images When Alexander Calder was 11, he made his parents two small animal figurines for Christmas: a dog and a duck, both sculpted from sheets of brass. The dog stood on four legs, with its tail positioned in an upward swirl.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Smithsonian Magazine.
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