Sol LeWitt Quotes

16 Sourced Quotes

An architect doesn't go off with a shovel and dig his foundation and lay every brick. He's still an artist.

Sol LeWitt
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.

Sol LeWitt
Most ideas that are successful are ludicrously simple. Successful ideas generally have the appearance of simplicity because they seem inevitable. In terms of idea the artist is free to even surprise himself. Ideas are discovered by intuition.

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.

Sol LeWitt
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.

Sol LeWitt
When words such as painting and sculpture are used, they connote a whole tradition and imply a consequent acceptance of this tradition, thus placing limitations on the artist who would be reluctant to make art that goes beyond the limitations.

Sol LeWitt
A work of art may be understood as a conductor from the artist's mind to the viewer's. But it may never reach the viewer, or it may never leave the artist's mind.

Sol LeWitt
Once it is out of his hand the artist has no control over the way a viewer will perceive the work. Different people will understand the same thing in a different way.

Sol LeWitt
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

Sol LeWitt
New materials are one of the great afflictions of contemporary art. Some artists confuse new materials with new ideas.

Sol LeWitt
I wasn't really that interested in objects. I was interested in ideas.

Sol LeWitt
Artists are mystics rather than rationalists. They leap to conclusions that logic cannot reach.

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.

Sol LeWitt
One should be intelligent enough to know when not to be too intellectual

Sol LeWitt
One usually understands the art of the past by applying the conventions of the present thus misunderstanding the art of the past.

Sol LeWitt
You belong in the most secret part of you. Don't worry about cool, make your own uncool. Make your own, your own world. If you fear, make it work for you—draw and paint your fear and anxiety.

Sol LeWitt