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About Alexander Calder: Modern from the Start
Alexander Calder: Modern from the Start offers an illuminating exploration of one of the most innovative and beloved artists of the twentieth century through his enduring relationship with The Museum of Modern Art. Calder revolutionised sculpture by introducing movement, transforming static forms into dynamic expressions of space and balance.
From his first appearance at MoMA in 1930 to his iconic Lobster Trap and Fish Tail mobile that still hangs in the Museum today, Calder’s work became deeply intertwined with MoMA’s own evolution.
This richly illustrated volume traces Calder’s artistic journey – from his early wire sculptures to his monumental stabiles and mobiles – while revealing how his collaborations with key MoMA figures such as Alfred H. Barr Jr. and James Johnson Sweeney helped define modern sculpture itself.
With insightful essays by curator Cara Manes, as well as contributions from Alexander Calder and Alexander S. C. Rower, Modern from the Start celebrates the artist’s profound influence and the lasting legacy of his creative partnership with one of the world’s leading art institutions.













