Lewitt’s Legacy

On July 10, Mercer Union in Toronto opens the exhibition Wall Drawing #349 by the extremely influential American Conceptual and Minimalist artist, Sol Lewitt (1928-2007). In his innovative wall drawings, Lewitt attempted to break free of the limitations of working on canvas by applying chalk, graphite, coloured pencils and crayon directly to gallery walls. Currently on view at the MASS MoCA in North Adams, Massachusetts, is a retrospective of the artist’s wall drawings, which will be on display for the next 25 years.

The Lewitt installation at Mercer Union will allow viewers to experience one of the artist’s wall works intimately. Originally commissioned by the gallery for its Mercer Street space in 1981, the gallery has been working with Lewitt’s daughter and former Mercer Union board members to reconfigure the work for its current Bloor Street/Lansdowne space. The wall drawing will also be accompanied by a display of Lewitt’s book works. The Lewitt exhibition wraps up a year of 30th Anniversary celebrations for the gallery.

A special fundraising preview of Wall Drawing #349 takes place on July 7. For more information, or to purchase tickets, click here.