Blue Elephant with Red Ears

1971

Alexander Calder

Artist, American, 1898 - 1976

The form of an elephant is made with metal sheets colored lapis-blue and scarlet red in this freestanding sculpture. The four legs are flat strips that have been bent in alternating directions to support the sculpture in a wide-legged stance. The trunk curls up and the trapezoidal ears are connected with a metal wire threaded through a hole in the animal’s head so they balance on either side. The sculpture casts faint shadows on the white surface on which it is photographed.
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On View

East Building Tower Level, Gallery 606

Artwork overview

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Paul Mellon [1907-1999], Upperville, Virginia; bequest 1999 to NGA, with life interest to his wife, Rachel Lambert Mellon [1910-2014].

Associated Names

Wikidata ID

Q63863396

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