05/10/97

Sol LeWitt Wall Drawing 830 Sackler Museum







A new wall drawing by conceptual artist Sol LeWitt (b. 1928), Wall Drawing #830: Four Isometric Figures with Color Ink Washes Superimposed, has been installed in the Arthur M. Sackler Museum's lobby – Harvard University Art Museums. Comprising four large-scale geometric shapes on fields of primary colors, the drawing dramatically amplifies and animates the Sackler's double-height entry space. The project was organized by James Cuno, director of the Art Museums, to create a friendlier, more inviting space for visitors, while at the same time giving the public easy access to a major work by one of our generation's premier draftsmen.

Sol LeWitt has been a dominating influence in contemporary art for several decades. His wall drawings have been installed in major museums worldwide. Although his work emphasizes conception rather than implementation, the final product is always visually pleasing.

"This is a beautiful work of art in its own right, but all the more beautiful for how it transforms and enhances the lobby of the Sackler Museum," said James Cuno. "We believe it demonstrates our commitment to working with contemporary artists and to offering our public new, exciting, and easily accessible aesthetic experiences. Anyone walking down Quincy Street or Broadway can now take refuge in the midst of a great work of art."

The installation of Wall Drawing #830 was led by Anthony Sansotta, who has worked with LeWitt for nineteen years, with the help of other assistants to LeWitt, local students and artists and staff at the Art Museums. The project was supported by the Contemporary Art Sub-Committee of the Art Museums Collections Committee, led by Gabriella de Ferrari and Bruce Beal.

The museum is located at 485 Broadway, Cambridge, Massachusetts.