Spirals and Stars c. 1974

This playful composition of bright stars and spiraling shapes is by Alexander Calder, an artist who constantly explored new ways of seeing the world. Just imagine Calder, brush in hand, playfully dancing around the canvas! It feels like he's capturing a sense of wonder. Look at the way he overlaps the forms. It’s like a cosmic dance where everything is interconnected. The thick, bold outlines define the shapes, giving them a graphic quality, while the vibrant colours—red, blue, yellow—create a lively, energetic feel. The spirals, especially, draw you in, don’t they? It's like the infinite possibilities of space. Calder, like so many of us painters, had a conversation with artists across time, riffing off ideas and inspiring new directions. This piece reminds us that painting is a way of thinking and feeling, inviting us to embrace ambiguity and uncertainty. There is space here for multiple interpretations and meanings.