Geometric Artist

Your geometry teacher asks you to draw “two asymmetrical pyramids.” What does that mean? What would your drawing look like? Would you and another student draw the same thing? Two Asymmetrical Pyramids isn’t actually a math assignment. It’s the title of a work by American artist Sol LeWitt. LeWitt combined seemingly simple lines and shapes to create eye-catching designs. His most famous works are larger-than-life drawings made directly on museum and gallery walls.

Your geometry teacher asks you to draw “two asymmetrical pyramids.” What does that mean? What would you draw? Would another student draw the same thing? Two Asymmetrical Pyramids isn’t actually a math assignment. It’s the title of a work by American artist Sol LeWitt. LeWitt used seemingly simple lines and shapes in his art. But he combined them into eye-catching designs. His most famous works are enormous drawings. They were made directly on museum and gallery walls.

LeWitt typically provided written instructions and sometimes a small sketch for an artwork. Then he hired other artists to interpret and carry out his design. In 2007, dozens of artists and students helped install 105 of LeWitt’s wall drawings at MASS MoCA. It’s one of the most popular exhibitions at the museum.

Throughout his life, LeWitt shied away from the spotlight. When an Italian magazine asked him for a photo of himself, he sent one of his dog instead. As he grew more famous, LeWitt used his money to support other artists. He hired many female painters at a time when most professional artists were men.

LeWitt typically provided written instructions for an artwork. Sometimes he included a small sketch too. Then he hired other artists to carry out his design. In 2007, 105 of LeWitt’s wall drawings were installed at MASS MoCA. Dozens of artists and students helped draw them. It’s one of the most popular exhibitions at the museum today.

LeWitt didn’t care about being famous. When a magazine asked him for a photo of himself, he sent one of his dog instead! When LeWitt started making more money, he used it to support other artists. He hired many female painters at a time when most professional artists were men.

Until his death in 2007, LeWitt worked to make art accessible to everyone. He believed that anybody could make and appreciate art—not just professional artists and critics. Even choosing clothes to wear or arranging furniture in your bedroom could be forms of artistic expression, he once explained. “We’re all making art as we live,” he said.

LeWitt died in 2007. Until then, he worked to make art accessible to everyone. He believed that anybody could make and appreciate art. You didn’t have to be a professional artist to understand it, he thought. Even choosing clothes to wear or arranging furniture in your bedroom could be types of art, he once explained. “We’re all making art as we live,” he said.