Woman

1925

The Ringling circus for the National Police Gazette

While still a student Calder works for the National Police Gazette, and in 1925 one of his assignments is to sketch the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. He becomes fascinated with the action of the circus, a theme that will reappear in his later work.

July 1926

To Paris as a crew member of the cargo steamer Galileo

In July 1926 Calder sets out for Paris as a crew member of the British cargo steamship Galileo as far as Hull, continuing by train and boat. In Paris he enrols at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière and sets up a studio at 22 rue Daguerre in Montparnasse, later moving to 7 villa Brune in the same district.

1927

His first solo exhibition, in Paris

Calder’s first solo exhibition takes place in 1927 at the gallery of Jacques Seligmann in Paris.

1927

Among the Parisian avant-garde

In 1927 Calder settles in Paris and grows close to the avant-garde, including Cocteau, Man Ray, Mondrian, Desnos and Le Corbusier; he befriends Fernand Léger, Jean Arp and Marcel Duchamp, and Joan Miró becomes a friend for life.

1928

His first show in a US commercial gallery

In 1928 Calder holds his first solo show at a commercial gallery in the United States, the Weyhe Gallery in New York.