Alexander Calder poses on a black leather couch with his hands clasped near his chin, in front of a colorful background with various colorful paintings.

Hi! I’m Alexander Wesley Calder, a Milwaukee-based artist. Throughout my life, I've always been drawn to building and creating. As a child it was birdhouses, as a teenager it was model cars, and as a young adult it became steel bicycle frames and even cosplay costumes. That curiosity and appreciation for craftsmanship came from my family. My great grandfather painted, my grandfather was a woodworker, my mother made Halloween costumes, and my brother's artwork was one of the first things that inspired me to pursue art myself. Creating has never been just a hobby. It's always been part of who I am.

Painting became my creative outlet and my favorite way to capture ideas, memories, and experiences. Working primarily in acrylic, I blend contemporary pop art, realism, and symbolism to create bold and colorful pieces.

I enjoy exploring themes of culture, society, identity, desire, and memory through layered symbolism and contrast. While many of my paintings make an immediate impression, I like leaving little discoveries for people who spend more time with them.

I don't create paintings to tell people what to think. I create them to start conversations, get a laugh, and leave room for interpretation. Whether a piece preserves a meaningful memory, comments on modern culture, or celebrates a shared experience, my hope is that each painting offers something new every time someone comes back to it.

If you’re here, welcome!

My work spans five different series, each exploring a different facet of creativity, identity, and the human experience. From playful and fun to dark introspection, these collections challenge, delight, and provoke.

  • Desire: The exploration of attraction, sexuality, indulgence, temptation, and intimacy.

  • Society: Commentary on culture, technology, expectations, and the human condition.

  • Echos: Memories, nostalgia, places, relationships, and moments that leave a lasting impression.

  • Identity: Personal growth, self-perception, transformation, and inspiration.

  • Restricted: Private commissions and one of a kind works that have helped shape my artistic journey.

Together, these series map my journey. Browse the collections, discover a piece that speaks to you, and let it become part of your story!