Alexander Calder made the air move. With Boomerangs and Balloon Barrage, he made wool move too.
During Art Basel Paris week, Boccara Gallery presents two rare Alexander Calder tapestries, Boomerangs and Balloon Barrage, at Design Miami.Paris 2026, from 20 to 25 October, at the Hôtel de Maisons, Salle 24. Both were handwoven in France during Calder’s lifetime, in editions limited to six.
For collectors, interior designers and art advisors, this is a rare chance to see two of Calder’s most graphic tapestry compositions side by side, in one of the most important design fairs of the Paris season.
Alexander Calder, Boomerangs (c. 1970)
Boomerangs turns one of Calder’s signature biomorphic motifs into a monumental vertical tapestry. Curved forms in red, blue, yellow and black travel across a light ground, as if thrown and caught in mid-flight.
The composition carries the same logic as his mobiles: simple shapes, precise balance, constant movement. In wool, those forms gain depth and warmth that paint and metal cannot give.
Details
Date: c. 1970
Dimensions: 219 × 127 cm (86 × 50 in)
Technique: Handwoven wool tapestry
Made in: Felletin, France
Edition: Edition of 6
Signature: Woven “Calder” signature and atelier monogram
Provenance: Private French collection
Condition: Excellent
→ View Boomerangs by Alexander Calder
Alexander Calder, Balloon Barrage (1970s)
Balloon Barrage is the natural companion to Boomerangs. Bold, simplified forms float across an open field, each one placed with care yet full of spontaneity.
Strong contrasts of red, blue and black set a rhythm across the surface. The weaving keeps the clarity of Calder’s shapes while adding subtle variations of texture, so the work reads both as a painting and as an object.
Details
Date: 1970s
Dimensions: 123 × 170 cm (49 × 67 in)
Technique: Handwoven wool tapestry
Made in: Aubusson, France
Edition: Edition of 6
Signature: Signed by the artist; atelier monogram
Condition: Excellent
→ View Balloon Barrage by Alexander Calder
Why Calder tapestries are so rare
Calder first designed textiles in 1929. From the 1960s, while living in Saché, he worked with the French weaving workshops ofAubusson and Felletin to translate his gouaches into wool.
Each design was woven in an edition of six and numbered on the reverse. Calder set the colours and the imagery; the weavers turned his flat forms into texture and relief. The result keeps the energy of a mobile, even though nothing moves.
Complete, well-preserved examples rarely reach the market. That scarcity is why Calder tapestries are sought by collectors of modern art and by designers building major interiors, and why provenance and documentation matter.
Boccara: the international reference for Calder tapestries
For collectors searching for a Calder tapestry, Boccara is the reference. The gallery has specialised in modern artist tapestries for more than three decades and, under Didier Marien since 1994, has assembled one of the most significant collections of 20th-century tapestries and rugs.
Alongside Alexander Calder, the collection includes Sonia Delaunay, Fernand Léger, Le Corbusier, Man Ray, Joan Miró, Vassily Kandinsky and Victor Vasarely. Boccara has presented Calder’s complete Bicentennial series in Paris and offers his tapestries in both its Paris and New York galleries.
With permanent galleries in Paris and New York, and a presence at The Winter Show, Fine Arts Paris and Design Miami.Paris, Boccara is a destination for anyone seeking an authentic Calder tapestry, with full documentation and expert advice.
→ Read: The Alexander Calder Bicentennial Series at Boccara Paris
→ Discover Alexander Calder at Boccara
→ Browse all modern master tapestries
Visit Boccara at Design Miami.Paris 2026
Boomerangs and Balloon Barrage are on view at Design Miami.Paris, held during Art Basel Paris week, the most important art and design week of the Paris calendar.
Dates: 20–25 October 2026
Venue: Hôtel de Maisons, 51 rue de l’Université, 75007 Paris
Room: Salle 24
Also on view: Le Corbusier, La Licorne passe sur la mer, in Design At Large
To arrange a private viewing or request a condition report, contact Boccara Gallery at info@boccara.com, +33 1 40 26 52 55 (Paris) or +1 212 901 0432 (New York).
FAQ: Alexander Calder tapestries
Why buy a Calder tapestry from Boccara?
Boccara has specialised in modern master tapestries for more than thirty years. Each Calder tapestry it offers is documented, in excellent condition and available for private viewing in Paris or New York.
How can I tell if a Calder tapestry is authentic?
Look for the woven “Calder” signature, the atelier monogram, the edition number on the reverse and the workshop label. Boccara Gallery documents every work it offers.
Where can I see or buy a Calder tapestry?
Boccara Gallery presents Calder tapestries in its Paris and New York galleries and at major fairs, including Design Miami.Paris 2026 (20– 25 October, Hôtel de Maisons, Salle 24).
