Calder Foundation

Calder Foundation. Established in 1987 by the artist's family, it is dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and presenting the life and artistic legacy of Alexander Calder. The organization serves as the central resource for scholarship on the pioneering American sculptor, known for inventing the mobile and revolutionizing Modern art with his monumental stabiles. Through extensive archival management, curated exhibitions, and scholarly publications, it fosters a comprehensive understanding of Calder's expansive oeuvre and his profound impact on 20th-century art.

History and founding

The organization was conceived by Calder's grandson, Alexander S. C. Rower, and formally established in 1987, a decade after the artist's death. Its creation was driven by the need to centralize and protect the vast and dispersed legacy of Alexander Calder, whose innovative work spanned seven decades across continents. Initial efforts focused on consolidating the artist's personal archives, which included correspondence, sketches, photographs, and documentary materials scattered among family holdings and various institutions. This foundational work provided the essential corpus for subsequent authentication, research, and educational initiatives, ensuring the integrity of his contributions to movements like Surrealism and Abstract Expressionism would be systematically preserved for future generations.

Mission and activities

Its primary mission is to deepen public and scholarly engagement with the work of Alexander Calder through authentication, research, and education. A core activity is the maintenance of a definitive catalogue raisonné, which documents and authenticates the artist's entire output, serving as an indispensable tool for museums, scholars, and the international art market. The organization actively collaborates with major institutions like the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Centre Pompidou on exhibitions and loan requests. Furthermore, it manages a robust program of artist residencies and educational outreach, supporting contemporary practitioners and fostering dialogue between Calder's innovations and current trends in Contemporary art.

Collections and archives

It stewards one of the world's most comprehensive archives related to Alexander Calder, encompassing a vast array of primary source materials. The holdings include thousands of personal letters, studio photographs, exhibition ephemera, and detailed notebooks that illuminate his creative process and relationships with figures like Joan Miró, Marcel Duchamp, and Piet Mondrian. A significant photographic collection features work by renowned artists such as Herbert Matter and Ugo Mulas, documenting Calder's sculptures and his studios in Saché, France, and Roxbury, Connecticut. This archival repository is an essential resource for researchers investigating not only Calder's career but also the broader networks of Modern art in Paris and New York City.

Publications and exhibitions

It produces authoritative scholarly publications and plays a pivotal role in organizing major international exhibitions. Key publications include multi-volume catalogue raisonnés and exhibition catalogues that accompany retrospectives at venues like the Tate Modern and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The organization's expertise is frequently leveraged for exhibitions that explore specific themes in Calder's work, such as his engagement with performance art through Cirque Calder or his large-scale public commissions. These projects often travel globally, to institutions such as the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. and the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid, significantly expanding public access to and understanding of his artistic legacy.

Governance and leadership

The organization is governed by a board of directors and led by President Alexander S. C. Rower, the artist's grandson and founding director. The board comprises members of the Calder family alongside experts from fields such as art history, law, and finance, who provide strategic oversight for its operations and long-term initiatives. Day-to-day activities are managed by a dedicated professional staff specializing in archives, curatorial affairs, and rights and reproductions. This leadership structure ensures that all activities, from authenticating works for auction houses like Christie's to partnering with foundations like the Guggenheim Foundation, adhere to the highest scholarly standards and ethical guidelines in preserving Calder's legacy.

Category:Art foundations Category:Art organizations based in New York City Category:Alexander Calder