Leo Castelli Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of early work by Sol LeWitt, Keith Sonnier and Lawrence Weiner All works on view employ the wall in a different way. The exhibition will be on view from November 7 – December 19, 2009.

In 1967 Sol LeWitt wrote his Paragraphs on Conceptual Art and explained that Conceptual art is the process where a concept or idea is formed prior to the execution of that idea. In Wall Drawing 98, 1971, LeWitt sets up the parameters of how the drawing is to be made prior to it’s making: two squares are drawn on the wall; ten thousand free hand lines are drawn in one square and ten thousand ruled lines in the other. The making of the drawing directly on the wall pares down extraneous elements thus moves closer to the idea itself.

In Lawrence Weiner’s work the emphasis is placed entirely on the content or idea presented and the wall has no relationship to the piece. The work exhibited “LAID OUT FLAT BENT [NOW] THIS WAY TURNED [NOW] THAT WAY (i.e. LOOPED OVER),” 1978, describes an action that the artist no longer needs to execute.

Keith Sonnier takes a very different approach. In Untitled, 1968, the artist uses flock to create a trapezoidal shape directly on the wall. Coming off of the corners of the shape are pieces of string that create a structural balance. In his other piece, Go Between, 1968 a sheet of glass is mounted to the wall using latex and two light bulbs are installed on either side. These works overcome the notion that sculpture must be freestanding.

For further information please contact the gallery at (212) 249-4470 or info@castelligallery.com