ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Sol LeWitt's 1968 Wall Drawing Revolution

exhibition · 2026-04-23

In 1968, Sol LeWitt conceived the idea of drawing directly on gallery walls rather than on paper, a conceptual breakthrough for Minimalist and Conceptual art. The opportunity arose when Paula Cooper, a gallerist in Soho, New York, invited him to participate in an exhibition. LeWitt's simple intuition—using the four walls of a typical white cube as expansive surfaces—challenged traditional notions of drawing and permanence. Today, the original event is recalled through faded memories and black-and-white photographs, making its radical impact seem both distant and luminous.

Key facts

  • Sol LeWitt originated wall drawing in 1968
  • Paula Cooper invited LeWitt to exhibit at her Soho gallery
  • The idea was to draw on walls instead of paper
  • A typical white cube has at least four walls for expression
  • The event is now recalled through old black-and-white photos

Entities

Artists

  • Sol LeWitt

Institutions

  • Paula Cooper Gallery

Locations

  • New York
  • Soho
  • United States

Sources