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Sol LeWitt

Biography

The preeminent American artist Sol LeWitt (b. 1928, Hartford, CT, d. 2007, New York), whose pioneering style defies categorization, is well-known for his wall drawings as well as his many variations of open cube structures, complex forms, and works on paper. A critical departure from the tradition of object-based art, he believed in the primacy of the idea, famously stating: “The idea becomes a machine that makes the art.” LeWitt executed his first wall drawing for Paula Cooper Galleryʼs inaugural show in 1968. In November 2008, “Sol LeWitt: A Wall Drawing Retrospective” opened at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, where it will remain on view for 35 years. Recent one-person presentations include those at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, and the Modern Institute, Glasgow. LeWittʼs works are in numerous public collections, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Centre National dʼArt Moderne Georges Pompidou, Paris, the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Turinʼs Castello di Rivoli, the Moderna Museet Stockholm and the Tate Gallery, London.

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Selected Works

Selected Works Thumbnails
Sol LeWitt Wall Drawing #485 Three asymmetrical pyramids with color ink washes superimposed, 1986 color ink wash dimensions variable First drawn by: Christophe Boyer, David Higginbotham, Pierre Joseph, Fransje Killaars, Yves Mulas, Marien Schouten, Roy Villevoye First installation: Magasin - Centre National d'Art Contemporain de Grenoble, France June 1986

Sol LeWitt
Wall Drawing #485
Three asymmetrical pyramids with color ink washes superimposed, 1986
color ink wash
dimensions variable
First drawn by: Christophe Boyer, David Higginbotham, Pierre Joseph, Fransje Killaars, Yves Mulas, Marien Schouten, Roy Villevoye
First installation: Magasin - Centre National d'Art Contemporain de Grenoble, France June 1986

Sol LeWitt Wall Drawing #357, November 1981 White crayon, black pencil grid, black wall A 12-inch (30 cm) grid covering the black wall. Within each 12-inch (30 cm) square, one arc from the midpoint of one side (The direction of the arcs and their placement are determined by the drafter.) First drawn by: Jo Watanabe First installation: Zabriskie Gallery, New York

Sol LeWitt
Wall Drawing #357, November 1981
White crayon, black pencil grid, black wall A 12-inch (30 cm) grid covering the black wall. Within each 12-inch (30 cm) square, one arc from the midpoint of one side (The direction of the arcs and their placement are determined by the drafter.)
First drawn by: Jo Watanabe
First installation: Zabriskie Gallery, New York

Sol LeWitt Wall Drawing #878 White irregular form on red, yellow, blue and gray rectangles, August 1998 acrylic paint dimensions variable First drawn by: Kevin Oster, Mio Takashima First installation: Studley, Inc., New York Works accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity

Sol LeWitt
Wall Drawing #878
White irregular form on red, yellow, blue and gray rectangles, August 1998
acrylic paint dimensions variable
First drawn by: Kevin Oster, Mio Takashima
First installation: Studley, Inc., New York
Works accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity

Sol LeWitt Wall Drawing #500 Symmetrical pyramid with gray ink washes superimposed, October 1986 India ink wash dimensions variable First drawn by: Douglas Geiger, David Higginbotham, Kazuko Miyamoto, Anthony Sansotta, Rebecca Schwab, Susanna Singer, Kei Tsujimura, Jo Watanabe First installation: Drawing Center, New York

Sol LeWitt
Wall Drawing #500
Symmetrical pyramid with gray ink washes superimposed, October 1986
India ink wash dimensions variable First drawn by: Douglas Geiger, David Higginbotham, Kazuko Miyamoto, Anthony Sansotta, Rebecca Schwab, Susanna Singer, Kei Tsujimura, Jo Watanabe
First installation: Drawing Center, New York

Sol LeWitt Complex Form #6, 1987/1988 enamel on aluminum 96 x 180 x 43 in. (243.8 x 457.2 x 109.2 cm)

Sol LeWitt
Complex Form #6, 1987/1988
enamel on aluminum
96 x 180 x 43 in. (243.8 x 457.2 x 109.2 cm)

Sol LeWitt Serial Project ABCD 5, 1968 steel, lacquer, tape 8 x 57 1/4 x 57 1/4 in. (20.3 x 145.4 x 145.4 cm)

Sol LeWitt
Serial Project ABCD 5, 1968
steel, lacquer, tape
8 x 57 1/4 x 57 1/4 in. (20.3 x 145.4 x 145.4 cm)

Sol LeWitt Modular Floor Structure, 1966/1968 baked enamel on aluminum and steel 22 7/8 x 129 3/8 x 129 1/8 in. (58.2 x 328.3 x 328 cm.)

Sol LeWitt
Modular Floor Structure, 1966/1968
baked enamel on aluminum and steel
22 7/8 x 129 3/8 x 129 1/8 in. (58.2 x 328.3 x 328 cm.)

Sol LeWitt Incomplete Open Cube 7-8, Black, 1974 painted aluminum 42 x 42 x 42 in. (106.7 x 106.7 x 106.7 cm)

Sol LeWitt
Incomplete Open Cube 7-8, Black, 1974
painted aluminum
42 x 42 x 42 in. (106.7 x 106.7 x 106.7 cm)

Sol LeWitt Modular Wall Piece with Cube, 1965/1977 white-painted wood 21 x 96 x 21 in. (53.5 x 244 x 53.5 cm)

Sol LeWitt
Modular Wall Piece with Cube, 1965/1977
white-painted wood
21 x 96 x 21 in. (53.5 x 244 x 53.5 cm)

Sol LeWitt Brushstrokes, 1996 gouache on paper image: 60 1/2 x 92 1/2 in. (153.7 x 235 cm) frame: 66 x 98 1/8 x 2 1/2 in. (167.6 x 249.2 x 6.4 cm) signed lower right: "S LeWitt"

Sol LeWitt
Brushstrokes, 1996
gouache on paper
image: 60 1/2 x 92 1/2 in. (153.7 x 235 cm)
frame: 66 x 98 1/8 x 2 1/2 in. (167.6 x 249.2 x 6.4 cm)
signed lower right: "S LeWitt" 

Sol LeWitt Horizontal Lines, Black on Color, 2005 gouache on paper image: 60 1/2 x 60 1/4 in. (153.7 x 153 cm) frame: 66 x 65 3/4 x 3 in. (167.6 x 167 x 7.6 cm)

Sol LeWitt
Horizontal Lines, Black on Color, 2005
gouache on paper
image: 60 1/2  x 60 1/4 in. (153.7 x 153 cm)
frame: 66 x 65 3/4 x 3 in. (167.6 x 167 x 7.6 cm)

Sol LeWitt Complex Form (sloppy), 1991 gouache on paper image: 22 x 30 in. (55.9 x 76.2 cm) frame: 26 1/8 x 33 x 1 1/2 in. (66.4 x 83.8 x 3.8 cm) signed and dated bottom right corner:"S LeWitt 91"

Sol LeWitt
Complex Form (sloppy), 1991
gouache on paper
image: 22 x 30 in. (55.9 x 76.2 cm)
frame: 26 1/8 x 33 x 1 1/2 in. (66.4 x 83.8 x 3.8 cm)
signed and dated bottom right corner:"S LeWitt 91"

Sol LeWitt (rip) Map of New York City With the Area Between the Points Where I have Lived, Removed, 1979 Black & white photograph with cut-out 15 3/4 x 15 3/4 in. (40 x 40 cm) frame: 17 3/8 x 17 3/8 x 1 1/2 in. (44.1 x 44.1 x 3.8 cm) Titled and signed recto, lower left

Sol LeWitt
(rip) Map of New York City With the Area Between the Points Where I have Lived, Removed, 1979
Black & white photograph with cut-out
15 3/4 x 15 3/4 in. (40 x 40 cm)
frame: 17 3/8 x 17 3/8 x 1 1/2 in. (44.1 x 44.1 x 3.8 cm)
Titled and signed recto, lower left

Sol LeWitt Photogrid, 1977 49 coupler prints mounted on paper 23 3/8 x 23 3/8 in. (59.4 x 59.4 cm) frame: 24 1/4 x 24 1/4 x 1 1/2 in. (61.6 x 61.6 x 3.8 cm) inscribed, signed and dated lower right recto

Sol LeWitt
Photogrid, 1977
49 coupler prints mounted on paper
23 3/8 x 23 3/8 in. (59.4 x 59.4 cm)
frame: 24 1/4 x 24 1/4 x 1 1/2 in. (61.6 x 61.6 x 3.8 cm)
inscribed, signed and dated lower right recto

Sol LeWitt Wall Drawing #485 Three asymmetrical pyramids with color ink washes superimposed, 1986 color ink wash dimensions variable First drawn by: Christophe Boyer, David Higginbotham, Pierre Joseph, Fransje Killaars, Yves Mulas, Marien Schouten, Roy Villevoye First installation: Magasin - Centre National d'Art Contemporain de Grenoble, France June 1986

Sol LeWitt
Wall Drawing #485
Three asymmetrical pyramids with color ink washes superimposed, 1986
color ink wash
dimensions variable
First drawn by: Christophe Boyer, David Higginbotham, Pierre Joseph, Fransje Killaars, Yves Mulas, Marien Schouten, Roy Villevoye
First installation: Magasin - Centre National d'Art Contemporain de Grenoble, France June 1986

Sol LeWitt Wall Drawing #357, November 1981 White crayon, black pencil grid, black wall A 12-inch (30 cm) grid covering the black wall. Within each 12-inch (30 cm) square, one arc from the midpoint of one side (The direction of the arcs and their placement are determined by the drafter.) First drawn by: Jo Watanabe First installation: Zabriskie Gallery, New York

Sol LeWitt
Wall Drawing #357, November 1981
White crayon, black pencil grid, black wall A 12-inch (30 cm) grid covering the black wall. Within each 12-inch (30 cm) square, one arc from the midpoint of one side (The direction of the arcs and their placement are determined by the drafter.)
First drawn by: Jo Watanabe
First installation: Zabriskie Gallery, New York

Sol LeWitt Wall Drawing #878 White irregular form on red, yellow, blue and gray rectangles, August 1998 acrylic paint dimensions variable First drawn by: Kevin Oster, Mio Takashima First installation: Studley, Inc., New York Works accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity

Sol LeWitt
Wall Drawing #878
White irregular form on red, yellow, blue and gray rectangles, August 1998
acrylic paint dimensions variable
First drawn by: Kevin Oster, Mio Takashima
First installation: Studley, Inc., New York
Works accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity

Sol LeWitt Wall Drawing #500 Symmetrical pyramid with gray ink washes superimposed, October 1986 India ink wash dimensions variable First drawn by: Douglas Geiger, David Higginbotham, Kazuko Miyamoto, Anthony Sansotta, Rebecca Schwab, Susanna Singer, Kei Tsujimura, Jo Watanabe First installation: Drawing Center, New York

Sol LeWitt
Wall Drawing #500
Symmetrical pyramid with gray ink washes superimposed, October 1986
India ink wash dimensions variable First drawn by: Douglas Geiger, David Higginbotham, Kazuko Miyamoto, Anthony Sansotta, Rebecca Schwab, Susanna Singer, Kei Tsujimura, Jo Watanabe
First installation: Drawing Center, New York

Sol LeWitt Complex Form #6, 1987/1988 enamel on aluminum 96 x 180 x 43 in. (243.8 x 457.2 x 109.2 cm)

Sol LeWitt
Complex Form #6, 1987/1988
enamel on aluminum
96 x 180 x 43 in. (243.8 x 457.2 x 109.2 cm)

Sol LeWitt Serial Project ABCD 5, 1968 steel, lacquer, tape 8 x 57 1/4 x 57 1/4 in. (20.3 x 145.4 x 145.4 cm)

Sol LeWitt
Serial Project ABCD 5, 1968
steel, lacquer, tape
8 x 57 1/4 x 57 1/4 in. (20.3 x 145.4 x 145.4 cm)

Sol LeWitt Modular Floor Structure, 1966/1968 baked enamel on aluminum and steel 22 7/8 x 129 3/8 x 129 1/8 in. (58.2 x 328.3 x 328 cm.)

Sol LeWitt
Modular Floor Structure, 1966/1968
baked enamel on aluminum and steel
22 7/8 x 129 3/8 x 129 1/8 in. (58.2 x 328.3 x 328 cm.)

Sol LeWitt Incomplete Open Cube 7-8, Black, 1974 painted aluminum 42 x 42 x 42 in. (106.7 x 106.7 x 106.7 cm)

Sol LeWitt
Incomplete Open Cube 7-8, Black, 1974
painted aluminum
42 x 42 x 42 in. (106.7 x 106.7 x 106.7 cm)

Sol LeWitt Modular Wall Piece with Cube, 1965/1977 white-painted wood 21 x 96 x 21 in. (53.5 x 244 x 53.5 cm)

Sol LeWitt
Modular Wall Piece with Cube, 1965/1977
white-painted wood
21 x 96 x 21 in. (53.5 x 244 x 53.5 cm)

Sol LeWitt Brushstrokes, 1996 gouache on paper image: 60 1/2 x 92 1/2 in. (153.7 x 235 cm) frame: 66 x 98 1/8 x 2 1/2 in. (167.6 x 249.2 x 6.4 cm) signed lower right: "S LeWitt"

Sol LeWitt
Brushstrokes, 1996
gouache on paper
image: 60 1/2 x 92 1/2 in. (153.7 x 235 cm)
frame: 66 x 98 1/8 x 2 1/2 in. (167.6 x 249.2 x 6.4 cm)
signed lower right: "S LeWitt" 

Sol LeWitt Horizontal Lines, Black on Color, 2005 gouache on paper image: 60 1/2 x 60 1/4 in. (153.7 x 153 cm) frame: 66 x 65 3/4 x 3 in. (167.6 x 167 x 7.6 cm)

Sol LeWitt
Horizontal Lines, Black on Color, 2005
gouache on paper
image: 60 1/2  x 60 1/4 in. (153.7 x 153 cm)
frame: 66 x 65 3/4 x 3 in. (167.6 x 167 x 7.6 cm)

Sol LeWitt Complex Form (sloppy), 1991 gouache on paper image: 22 x 30 in. (55.9 x 76.2 cm) frame: 26 1/8 x 33 x 1 1/2 in. (66.4 x 83.8 x 3.8 cm) signed and dated bottom right corner:"S LeWitt 91"

Sol LeWitt
Complex Form (sloppy), 1991
gouache on paper
image: 22 x 30 in. (55.9 x 76.2 cm)
frame: 26 1/8 x 33 x 1 1/2 in. (66.4 x 83.8 x 3.8 cm)
signed and dated bottom right corner:"S LeWitt 91"

Sol LeWitt (rip) Map of New York City With the Area Between the Points Where I have Lived, Removed, 1979 Black & white photograph with cut-out 15 3/4 x 15 3/4 in. (40 x 40 cm) frame: 17 3/8 x 17 3/8 x 1 1/2 in. (44.1 x 44.1 x 3.8 cm) Titled and signed recto, lower left

Sol LeWitt
(rip) Map of New York City With the Area Between the Points Where I have Lived, Removed, 1979
Black & white photograph with cut-out
15 3/4 x 15 3/4 in. (40 x 40 cm)
frame: 17 3/8 x 17 3/8 x 1 1/2 in. (44.1 x 44.1 x 3.8 cm)
Titled and signed recto, lower left

Sol LeWitt Photogrid, 1977 49 coupler prints mounted on paper 23 3/8 x 23 3/8 in. (59.4 x 59.4 cm) frame: 24 1/4 x 24 1/4 x 1 1/2 in. (61.6 x 61.6 x 3.8 cm) inscribed, signed and dated lower right recto

Sol LeWitt
Photogrid, 1977
49 coupler prints mounted on paper
23 3/8 x 23 3/8 in. (59.4 x 59.4 cm)
frame: 24 1/4 x 24 1/4 x 1 1/2 in. (61.6 x 61.6 x 3.8 cm)
inscribed, signed and dated lower right recto

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