| Cirque Calder | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Alexander Calder |
| Year | 1926–1931 |
| Type | sculpture |
| Dimensions | 137.2 cm× 239.4 cm× 239.4 cm(54.0 in× 94.3 in× 94.3 in) |
| Location | Whitney Museum, New York, New York |
| Owner | Whitney Museum |
Cirque Calder is an artistic rendering of a circus created by the American artist Alexander Calder. It involves wire models rigged to perform the various functions of the circus performers they represent, from contortionists to sword eaters to lion tamers. The models are composed of diverse materials, most notably wire and wood. During his time in Paris, Calder began improvising circus shows. During the performance, he would make comments in French.
Contents
The Cirque Calder is part of the permanent collection of the Whitney Museum in New York. [1] From October 18, 2025 – March 9, 2026, the Whitney exhibited it in High Wire: Calder’s Circus at 100 to celebrate the centennial of the work. [2]