American artist Alexander Calder first began creating art as a child, influenced by his mother, father, and grandfather—all of whom were artists. Calder’s proclivity toward building objects led to a lifelong interest in kinetics. He initially pursued a degree in mechanical engineering before turning his full attention to art. By the late 1920s, Calder was working as an artist in New York City. In the 1930s, inspired by his friendship with artist Piet Mondrian, he shifted from representational work to abstraction. Today, Calder is widely recognized for his mechanized artworks and pioneering a type of suspended kinetic sculpture that artist Marcel Duchamp famously dubbed “mobiles.” Baby Flat Top, 1946, in Glenstone’s collection, showcases Calder’s unique marriage of engineering and abstraction.

–Carly Davis, from the Glenstone Field Guide