Alexander Calder, One White, Four Blacks (Un blanc, quatre noirs), 1967. Painted steel, 99 x 84 x 84 in. Courtesy the Collection of Irma and Norman Braman. Photo credit: Phillip Karp.
Alexander Calder (1898–1976) was an American sculptor who is today regarded as one of the most influential figures in the development of kinetic art. Originally trained as an engineer before he pursued art, Calder gained recognition beginning in the 1930s for his innovative mobile sculptures, which are distinguished by their suspended and balanced elements that move in response to natural air currents.
Typically combining bold, primary colors with geometric, abstract shapes, Calder’s prolific body of work also includes wire figures, stationary sculptures, and monumental outdoor sculptures such as the subject work.