‘I love the space of the circus. I made some drawings of nothing but the tent. The whole thing of the—the vast space—I’ve always loved it.’ – Alexander Calder (1964)

Alexander Calder’s experience sketching circus performances and zoo animals led to the inauguration, in 1926, of his Cirque Calder, a miniature circus which Calder ‘performed’ in Paris in front of the international avant-garde. It is now understood as one of the earliest examples of performance art.

Radical Inventor’s co-curator Anne Grace explains how Calder’s love of the circus developed and how it was reflected in his work throughout his career.