99 Gansevoort Street New York New York NY 10014 United States Whitney Museum of American Art
High Wire: Calder’s Circus at 100 | Whitney Museum of American Art
High Wire: Calder’s Circus at 100celebrates the centennial of one ofAlexander Calder’s most iconic works and one of the most beloved works in the Whitney’s collection,Calder’s Circus(1926–31). In 1926, Calder began constructing his miniature multi-act spectacle while living in Paris, using commonplace materials—wire, fabric, cork, wood, string, and found objects—to create a cast of acrobats, animals, and other circus performers including clowns, a sword swallower, and a ringmaster. The figures were brought to life through performances that Calder staged for audiences of artists and friends, among themMarcel Duchamp, Joan Miró, Piet Mondrian, andIsamu Noguchi. These dynamic performances were set to music, complete with lighting and narration by Calder, and could last up to two hours—representing a radical new form of performance art. Calder stored theCircusin a set of five suitcases and would continue to present the work on both sides of the Atlantic.
Oct 18, 2025–Mar 9, 2026 (UTC-5)
