Celebrating Alexander Calder: The Calder Playing Cards

Alexander Calder, one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century, revolutionized art with his suspended abstract mobiles and monumental stabiles. By removing sculpture from the pedestal, he invited viewers to engage with his work directly, a concept that also permeates his performative pieces, furniture designs, jewelry, and paintings.

The Calder Playing Cards by Art of Play draw inspiration from a set of vivid gouache paintings created by Calder in the 1970s, known as the Card Player series. Many of the cards are direct reproductions of these paintings, with the striped back design also derived from the series. All letters and numbers on the cards are rendered in Calder’s own handwriting, adding a personal touch to the deck.

Since the original images did not include court cards, the faces for the Jack, King, and Queen were taken from another series of gouaches that Calder painted during the same period, ensuring every aspect of the deck is authentically Calder.

Every detail of this deck has been meticulously reproduced to honor the legacy of Alexander Calder, the iconic master of innovation in art. These playing cards are not just a tribute to his groundbreaking work but also a unique way to experience Calder’s artistic vision.

Available now from Art of Play for $18.