“Blue Feather” is a kinetic sculpture and mobile created by Alexander Calder in 1948. As a work from the Kinetic Art movement, it exemplifies Calder’s innovative approach to sculpture, which incorporates movement in its design. The piece is emblematic of his mobiles, which were carefully balanced structures that move with the air currents in the room.
This artwork features a central black pyramid-like shape with a single point touching the ground, giving a sense of delicate balance. From this central axis extend wire arms, some of which culminate in floating elements—disks and abstract shapes that seem to gently float in space. There is a boldness to the color contrasts—with the notable use of black, red, and a prominent blue feather-shaped element, from which the piece presumably receives its name. Each element is carefully positioned to maintain an overall sense of equilibrium, allowing the sculpture to move fluidly. The use of negative space and geometric abstraction is noticeable, and there is an interplay of static and dynamic components as the viewer’s perspective shifts or as air moves the piece. Calder’s work in this sculpture harnesses the forces of nature, like gravity and air currents, making the viewer acutely aware of the subtleties of motion and balance.
