Sol LeWitt
Artist Cv
Sol LeWitt
1928-2007
LeWitt was pivotal in the creation of the new radical aesthetic of the 1960's that was a revolutionary contradiction to the 'Abstract Expressionism' current in the 1950's and 60's New York school. He had no interest in inherent narrative or descriptive imagery. LeWitt, like no other artist of his generation, had always maintained the importance of the concept or idea and, apart from his original works on paper, the work is executed by others to clear and strict instructions. As one of the first coherent proponents of conceptual art with his writings, Sentences on Conceptual Art, 1969, LeWitt's work continues to be regarded and referred to by a younger generation of artists as one of the seminal investigations into 'idea' and 'concept' art. He continued to challenge new thinking about what art can be. "If the artist carried through his idea and makes it into visible form, then all the steps in the process are of importance. The idea itself, even if not made visual, is as much a work of art as any finished product." Stated LeWitt in 1971. "All intervening steps, scribbles, sketches, drawings, failed work models, studies thoughts, conversations, are of interest. Those that show the thought process of the artist are sometimes more interesting than the final product." (LeWitt, 'Paragraphs on Conceptual Art', Artforum Vol.5, no. 10, Summer 1967, pp. 79-83)
Born in 1928 in Hartford Connetticut, LeWitt continued to work until his recent death this year. After studying a bachelors degree in Fine Art at Syracuse University until 1949, he worked as a graphic designer for I.M Pei's architecture office in New York. In 1960 LeWitt took a job at the Museum of Modern Art in New York at the book counter where his co-workers included Robert Ryman, Dan Flavin and Robert Mangold, situating him in the midst of young artists searching for a new direction in art. LeWitt participated in seminal group exhibitions including "Primary Structures", Jewish Museum, New York and "10", Dwan Gallery, New York, both in 1966, Documenta IV in 1968 and Harald Szeeman's exhibition "When Attitude Becomes Form", Kunsthalle, Berne and Institute of Contemporary Art, London, 1969.
Sol Lewitt's most recent retrospective was organised by the San Francisco Museum of Art in 2000 and then travelled to the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago and the Whitney Museum of American Art., New York. His works are found in the most important museum collections including: Tate Modern London, the Stedelijk van Abbemuseum, Amsterdam, Musee National d'Art Moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, Australian National Gallery, Canberra, Australia, Guggenheim Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, New York, Dia:Beacon, the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.
"Sol Lewitt also had a pivotal role for Lisson Gallery, especially in the early days. He and I worked intensively together embarking on projects, exhibitions at the gallery and the production of work. I also assisted Sol in building his extraordinary collection of living artists. He was exemplary as a model artist in terms of his attitude, his openness, generosity and fair handedness. His spirit lives on with us, and is deeply embedded in the culture of the gallery." Nicholas Logsdail
Artist Contact
Sales Enquiries: Nicholas Logsdail nicholas@lissongallery.com +44 (0)20 7535 0801
Artist Liaison: Nicholas Logsdail nicholas@lissongallery.com +44 (0)20 7535 0801
Artist News
Sol Lewitt: A Wall Drawing Retrospective
MASS MoCA, Galleries, North Adams, Massachusetts, USA
From 16 November 2008
MASS MoCA
Artist Exhibitions
Sol Lewitt November 29, 2006 - January 20, 2007View Exhibition
Sol Lewitt September 15 - October 23, 2004
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Then and Now July 18 - September 12, 1998
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Sol Lewitt May 21 - July 4, 1998
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Sol LeWitt & Robert Mangold February 3 - March 16, 1995
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Out of Sight Out of Mind February 15 - April 3, 1993
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Sol LeWitt January 11 - February 9, 1991
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Sol LeWitt July 17 - September 16, 1989
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Sol LeWitt July 4 - September 10, 1988
20th Anniversary Exhibition July 23 - September 19, 1987
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Dan Graham & Sol LeWitt May 13 - June 5, 1986
Sol LeWitt November 9 - December 16, 1984
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Sol LeWitt July 15 - August 6, 1983
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Through the Summer July 23 - September, 1981
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Daniel Buren, Sol LeWitt, Richard Long, Fred Standback May 6 - 31, 1980
Through the Summer June 21 - August, 1979
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Sol LeWitt January 24 - February 23, 1979
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Sol LeWitt March 10 - April 9, 1977
Sol LeWitt April 2 - May 2, 1974
Sol LeWitt May 7 - June 15, 1973
Sol LeWitt & Donald Judd September 22 - October 27, 1971
Sol LeWitt June 14 - July 31, 1971
Wall Show December 10, 1970 - January 30, 1971
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Donald Judd & Sol LeWitt October 2 - 24, 1970
Artist Images
Wall Drawings, 2007 Installation view Lisson Gallery, 29 Bell St, 29th November 2006 – 20th January 2007
Wall Drawings, 2007 Installation view Lisson Gallery, 29 Bell St, 29th November 2006 – 20th January 2007
Wall Drawings, 2007 Installation view Lisson Gallery, 29 Bell St, 29th November 2006 – 20th January 2007
Scribbles (Lisson), 2006 Graphite Dimensions variable
Wall Drawing #1139: Forms composed of bands of black and white, 2004 Acrylic paint Dimensions variable
Wall Drawing #1139: Forms composed of bands of black and white, 2004 Acrylic paint Dimensions variable
Wall Drawing #1138: Forms composed of bands of color, 2004 Acrylic Paint Dimensions variable
Wall Drawing No. 821 A square is divided horizontally and vertically into four equal parts, each with a different direction of alternating flat black and glossy black bands, 1997 Acrylic paint Dimensions variable
Open Geometric Structure 3, 1990 Paint on wood 98 x 98 x 438 cm
Form Derived From a Cubic Rectangle, 1989 Gouache on paper 69.5 x 87 cm
Form Derived From a Cubic Rectangle, 1989 Gouache on paper 69.5 x 87 cm
Pyramid (Ref 5), 1985 White painted wood 53 x 64.5 x 84.5 cm
Geometric Structures, 1979 Painted hardwood with plywood bases 366 x 320 x 36 cm
Incomplete Open Cube No.5-6, 1974 Paint on aluminium 108 x 108 x 108 cm