September 30, 2005 – January 8, 2006
Although Alexander Calder (1898-1976) exhibited with the Surrealists at various times, including the crucial 1936 “Surrealist Object” exhibition in Paris, his association with the group is rarely noted. Upon close examination, it is clear that Calder had strong surrealist origins, with his work crossing paths with the movement in a variety of fascinating ways. The influence of Surrealism on Calder is evident in the sculptor’s emphasis on cosmic imagery, biomorphic and metamorphic forms—and in his wit.
Organized by The Menil Collection and seen in the context of the museum’s renowned Surrealist holdings, The Surreal Calder, curated by Menil adjunct curator of Twentieth Century Art Mark Rosenthal, is the first exhibition to explore the artist’s signature appropriation of unexpected, surreal qualities that often go unnoticed in his work. The exhibition consists of nearly 60 objects, ranging from works on paper to sculpture, created between 1932 and 1947 (the theoretical end point of the Surrealist movement). Accompanying the exhibition will be a fully illustrated catalogue with an essay by Mark Rosenthal and an in-depth chronology drawing upon archival materials from the Calder Foundation.
Croisière, 1931
Wire, wood and paint
Private colection
Lignum vitae, walnut, steel rods, and painted wood
The Museum of Modern Art, New York, gift of the artist
© 2005 Estate of Alexander Calder/
Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Wood (apple branch), wire, and paint
Courtesy Calder Foundation, New York
© 2005 Estate of Alexander Calder/
Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
