Sol LeWitt was an influential American artist known for his pioneering contributions to conceptual art. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, to immigrant parents, LeWitt studied at Syracuse University and later served in the Korean War, where he developed a passion for art. He moved to New York in the 1950s, working in graphic design and later at the Museum of Modern Art, where he met key figures in the contemporary art world.

LeWitt's work was deeply influenced by Russian Constructivism and Eadweard Muybridge’s studies of motion. He is best known for his wall drawings, which he began creating in 1968. These works emphasized the idea behind the art rather than the physical object, as the drawings were made from a set of instructions and could be re-executed indefinitely. LeWitt also applied these concepts to printmaking and sculpture, exploring the use of systematic methods, permutations, and variations.

In the 1980s, living in Italy, LeWitt’s work evolved to incorporate influences from Renaissance frescoes, which he acknowledged shaped his later drawings. His focus on ideas over execution marked a significant shift in contemporary art. LeWitt’s legacy is celebrated through numerous retrospectives, including the ongoing Sol LeWitt: A Wall Drawing Retrospective at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art.

LeWitt died in 2007, leaving a lasting impact on the art world.

Sol LeWitt

American

Main

Artist

Printer

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Brushstrokes: Horizontal and Vertical, Plate #18