The artwork “Maquette for Flamingo” was created by Alexander Calder in 1972, as part of the “Flamingo” series. This sculpture falls into the genre of a stabile, which stands in contrast to Calder’s more commonly known mobiles. With its roots in the Abstract Expressionism movement, the sculpture is a precursor to the large-scale public art piece “Flamingo,” which was later installed in Chicago.
This particular maquette exhibits characteristic attributes of Calder’s abstract style; it is composed of bold, geometric shapes, with a prominent arching element complemented by angled forms below. The artwork is painted in a vivid red color, accentuating the dynamic interaction between the sculpture’s components against the contrasting black background. The sense of balance and momentum, with an overarching sense of playful poise, reflects Calder’s interest in movement and form, even within the context of a stationary sculpture.
