Calder: In Motion, The Shirley Family Collection

People think monuments should come out of the ground, never out of the ceiling, but mobiles can be monumental, too.

ALEXANDER CALDER

Gamma, 1947, Alexander Calder, 1898-1976, sheet metal, wire, and paint, 58 x 84 x 36 in., Promised gift of Jon and Mary Shirley, Photo courtesy of Calder Foundation, New York / Art Resource, New York.

One of Calder’s objects is like the sea and equally spellbinding: always beginning over again, always new. A passing glance is not enough; you must live with it, be bewitched by it.

JEAN-PAUL SARTRE

Red Curly Tail, 1970, Alexander Calder, 1898-1976, sheet metal, rod, bolts, and paint, 192 x 275 x 144 in., Promised gift of Jon and Mary Shirley, photo: Nicholas Shirley, Brightwood Photos.

It is hard to feel out of sorts when you see a Calder moving slightly out of the corner of an eye.

JON SHIRLEY

Untitled, ca. 1948, Alexander Calder, 1898-1976, sheet metal, wire, wood, string, and paint, 52 × 95 × 3 in., Promised gift of Jon and Mary Shirley, photo: Nicholas Shirley, Brightwood Photos.

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Alexander Calder

Set Modern Art in Motion

Discover the iconic American artist who revolutionized sculpture with his renowned mobiles and stabiles, which range from the miniature to the monumental. This exhibition celebrates a transformative gift to SAM by longtime supporters Jon and Kim Shirley, presenting to the public over 45 works from the collection for the first time.

Who is Calder?

Explore the Collection

Calder: In Motion

The Shirley Family Collection

Nov 8 2023 – Aug 4 2024
Seattle Art Museum

An iconic modern artist and a transformative gift.

About the Exhibition