Sol LeWitt Quotes

Artist

Sol LeWitt, born on September 9, 1928, and died on April 8, 2007, was a renowned American conceptual artist. His works are known for their abstract and conceptual nature, particularly for his contributions to wall painting. LeWitt's art emphasizes ideas and processes over traditional aesthetic values.

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All Art Artist Ideas Form Works Of Art Conceptual Art Art Is Simple Ifs May Thinking Viewers Way Development Drawing Important Looks Objects Produce Real

Famous Sol LeWitt Quotes

“In my case, I used the elements of these simple forms - square, cube, line and color - to produce logical systems. Most of these systems were finite; that is, they were complete using all possible variations. This kept them simple.”

Form Used Lines Simple Cases Produce Color Elements Logical Squares Finite Variation Methodology Cubes

Author:Sol LeWitt

“[The artist's aim is] not to instruct the viewer, but to give him information... . The artist would follow his predetermined premise to its conclusion, avoiding subjectivity. Chance, taste, or unconsciously remembered forms would play no part in the outcome. The serial artist does not attempt to produce a beautiful or mysterious object but functions merely as a clerk cataloguing the results of his premise.”

“A blind man can make art if what is in his mind can be passed to another mind in some tangible form.”

Ifs Men Mind Art Form Blind Painter Tangible Sculptors Blind Man

Author:Sol LeWitt

“Artists of many diverse types began using simple forms to their own ends.”

Ends Form Artist Simple Type Diverse

Author:Sol LeWitt

“When an artist uses a conceptual form of art, it means that all of the planning and decisions are made beforehand and the execution is a perfunctory affair. The idea becomes a machine that makes the art.”

Mean Art Made Ideas Use Form Artist Decision Machines Affair Planning Execution

Book:Sol Lewitt: critical texts

Source: Sol Lewitt: critical texts

“Also, since art is a vehicle for the transmission of ideas through form, the reproduction of the form only reinforces the concept. It is the idea that is being reproduced. Anyone who understands the work of art owns it. We all own the Mona Lisa.”

Art Ideas Form Art Is Concepts Works Of Art Vehicle Reproduction Transmission Mona Lisa

Author:Sol LeWitt

“Ideas alone can be works of art; they are in a chain of development that may eventually find some form. All ideas need not be made physical.”

Needs May Art Made Ideas Form Development Chains Works Of Art

Book:Sol Lewitt: critical texts

Source: Sol Lewitt: critical texts

“What the work of art looks like isn't too important. It has to look like something if it has a physical form. No matter what form it may finally have it must begin with an idea. It is the process of conception and realization with which the artist is concerned.”

Ifs Looks May Art Important Ideas Matter Form Artist Process Concerned No Matter What Realization Works Of Art Conception Like Something

Book:Sol Lewitt: critical texts

Source: Sol Lewitt: critical texts

“The most interesting characteristic of the cube is that it is relatively uninteresting. Compared to any other three-dimensional form, the cube lacks any aggressive force, implies no motion, and is least emotive. Therefore, it is the best form to use as a basic unit for any more elaborate function, the grammatical device from which the work may proceed.”

May Use Form Three Force Interesting Function Characteristics Devices Aggressive Units Most Interesting Cubes

Book:Sol Lewitt: critical texts

Source: Sol Lewitt: critical texts

“Your work isn't a high stakes, nail-biting professional challenge. It's a form of play. Lighten up and have fun with it.”

Play Form Fun Challenges Having Fun Stakes Nails Biting

Author:Sol LeWitt

About the Author

Born: September 9, 1928
Died: April 8, 2007
Known for: Artist
Quotes: 54

Books & Sources

Sol Lewitt: critical textsRelated source material

Sol LeWitt wall drawing 1176: seven basic colors and all their combinations in a square within a square : for Josef AlbersRelated source material

From the Collection of Sol LeWitt: A Traveling Exhibition Organized and Circulated by Independent Curators Incorporated, New YorkRelated source material

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