Styles & Movements

Kinetic Art

In kinetic sculpture, the art does not only move, but its motion is essential to its definition as a piece of art. The first kinetic sculptures were made in the twenties by Marcel Duchamp and Naum Gabo, who both abandoned their experiments with moving artworks. Alexander Calder, the inventor of the mobile, is known as the father of kinetic sculpture, and he was followed by George Rickey, Kenneth Martin, Takis, POL BURY, and others. Kinetic sculpture gains its movement through many means, including chance activity of nature, electric motors, and magnetic forces.

At its best, kinetic sculpture is graceful, thrilling, even surprising, revealing ever-changing nuances of light, color, and form. Kinetic artists gave visual form to something essentially not visual: movement.