Calder's Flamingo

Calder's Flamingo, the red splash of Federal Plaza

On Chicago's Federal Plaza, a large red sculpture immediately catches the eye: Alexander Calder's Flamingo. This open-air artwork, typical of the city, stands out by its bright colour against the dark skyscrapers surrounding it. The Chicago audio-guided tour stops here to evoke abstract art in public space.

A stabile by Alexander Calder

The Flamingo is a sculpture by the American artist Alexander Calder, a sculptor and painter known for his abstract art. It is a stabile, that is to say a fixed structure, in steel painted bright red and sixteen metres tall. Set on Federal Plaza, among the federal buildings, the work plays on the contrast between its organic curves and the rigour of the modern skyscrapers.

What to see

The sculpture, immense and a brilliant red, can be seen from all angles: you can walk under its arches and appreciate the play of its forms against the sky and the façades. It is one of the most appreciated public artworks in Chicago, a stone's throw from the Loop. A colourful and joyful landmark in the mineral setting of the federal district.

Practical information

Calder's Flamingo lies on Federal Plaza, in the Loop, in the centre of Chicago, reachable on foot and by metro. It is an open-air work, freely accessible at all times, with no ticket office. On the level on the square, it is easy to access and is discovered during a walk in the district.

Who created Chicago's Flamingo?

The American artist Alexander Calder; it is a sixteen-metre-tall red steel stabile, installed on Federal Plaza.

What is a stabile?

It is a fixed sculpture, as opposed to the mobiles also invented by Calder; Chicago's Flamingo is a monumental example.