Sol LeWitt's 1968 Wall Drawing Revolution
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
- artpress —