Solomon (Sol) LeWitt

Born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1928, Solomon (Sol) LeWitt is recognized for his impact on both Minimalism and Conceptual Art. Before serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, LeWitt received his BFA from Syracuse University; upon his return from the War, he relocated to New York, where he attended drawing classes, took a job at the Museum of Modern Art, and met a hosts of artists who would impact his thinking (Robert Rauschenberg, Robert Ryman, Josef Albers, and more).

 LeWitt held Conceptual Art’s core tenet close in high esteem – he staunchly believed that the concept or idea behind an artwork was more important than the art itself. To that end, he spearheaded Conceptual Art (amidst a backdrop of Abstract Expressionism that had taken precedence in the previous decades). Apart from his original works on paper, LeWitt’s works were created (conceptualized) by him, but carried out by studio assistants following LeWitt’s instructions.

Retrospectives of LeWitt’s works have been held across the globe, institutions including the Tate Gallery (London), the Dia Art Foundation (New York), the Centre Georges Pompidou (Paris), among many more, boast his works in their collections. The artist died on April 8, 2007.