Bio

• Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Graduate of Stevens Institute of Technology in 1919. Attended the Art Students League in 1923. He was an illustrator for the Police Gazette. He was assigned to cover the circus in 1925 and became fascinated by the acrobats and balancing acts. He started making small sculptures of animals and acrobats. Married Louisa James January 17, 1931. They had two children.

  Calder was noted for kinetic sculpture he called Stabiles and Mobiles. He died in New York City.

  Calder appeared on the half ounce American Arts Gold Medallion for 1983. Design was by Michael Iacocca. There were 410,000 pieces struck, 74,571 pieces issued, and the remaining 335,429 melted.

  bio: DAB; EAB; Fielding; NCAB 61 (photo); WAB; WWWA-7

Date of birth

• 1898-07-22

Place of birth

• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Date of death

• 1976-11-11

Relationships