Alexander Calder
PLANETARY MOTION, 1964
Brush and black ink and gouache on paper
29 x 42 1/4 in
73.7 x 107.3 cm
Available at Surovek Gallery
Calder Gardens opened to the public last Sunday. It is a celebration of the life and work of Alexander Calder (1898-1976) and is as unique a place as the artist himself. It is situated in the heart of Philadelphia, where Calder was born.
Calder Gardens was designed by Swiss architect Jacques Herzog and Dutch landscape designer Piet Oudolf. Calder’s sculptures are located in both the building and the gardens, but there are no labels or plaques to identify them. Calder Gardens was designed as a place to experience the harmony between “art, architecture and nature”.
The Barnes Foundation, which is nearby, will oversee the operation of the site, with curatorial support from the Calder Foundation. The selection of works, by Calder and other artists, will be rotated periodically. Special events, performances and lectures that relate to Calder’s legacy of creativity and innovation will be presented.
Works by Calder’s mother, who was a painter, his father and grandfather, who were sculptors, are currently on view at Calder Gardens.
Milton Avery (1885-1965) was an artist’s artist. He painted what was in front of him, paring down figures and forms, giving them color to create works of joy and serenity.
He created his own style between the American Impressionist and American Expressionist Movements and, though he influenced many of the artists who admired his work, visited his home and were inspired by him, he has only recently gotten the recognition he deserves.
In 2022, a retrospective of his work was shown at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, the same year that his painting, The Letter, sold at Sotheby's for $6,069,500. Milton Avery's works can be found in the permanent collections of The Met, MoMA, the National Portrait Gallery and other major venues.
The Karma Gallery in New York is planning an exhibit of Milton Avery’s works. Milton Avery: The Figure will be on view from November 6 through December 20, 2025.
Please contact us if you would like more information about the works of Alexander Calder and Milton Avery available at Surovek Gallery.
References:
Andrew Russeth. In Philadelphia, a Stirring New Stage for Alexander Calder. The New York Times. September 15, 2025.
Aaron Betsky. Calder Gardens: The Anti-Museum as Architecture. Architect Magazine. September 22, 2025.
Rory Mitchell. Fair Necessities: Five Phenomenal Works at Art Basel 2025. Ocula. June 17, 2025.
William Corwin. Milton Avery: Early Works on Paper + Late Painting. The Brooklyn Rail. April 2018.