BRUSSELS.- Given the success - both with the critics and the general public - of "Sol LeWitt. Wall drawings, Works on paper. Structures (1968-2002)" and following the relaxation of the sanitary measures, the Jewish Museum of Belgium has decided to extend the exhibition by 3 months, until 31 July 2022.

The Jewish Museum of Belgium takes this opportunity to add two new works on paper to the exhibition, coming from the Herbert Foundation in Ghent. It is a tribute to the recently deceased Belgian collector of minimalist and conceptual art Anton Herbert (1938-2021) and to the period of the 1970s, embodied by the MTL gallery and by Anton Herbert.

"The exhibition "Sol LeWitt. Wall Drawings, Works on Paper, Structures (1968-2002)" is a remarkable and unexpected success, with almost 15,000 visitors in 4 months. As the Jewish Museum of Belgium, we are very proud that we have succeeded in reaching so many people from so many different backgrounds. This exhibition is intended both for the connoisseur who can discover little-known projects such as the Chester Synagogue, and for people who are discovering Sol LeWitt's work for the first time, getting familiar with the extraordinary work of the man who became one of the great figures of conceptual art. — Barbara Cuglietta, Director of the Jewish Museum of Belgium

Born in Hartford, Connecticut, to a family of Jewish immigrants from Russia, Solomon (Sol) LeWitt was a pioneer of conceptual and minimal art, known in particular for his Wall Drawings. Although he was not religious, leading a secular life, Sol LeWitt did maintain a discreet but persistent link with his Jewish heritage throughout his life. In the 1990s, he became more actively involved in his community in Chester, Connecticut, designing the new synagogue of the Reform Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek, which was opened in 2001. For Sol LeWitt, the design of a synagogue was "a problem of geometric forms in a space that conforms to ritual usage". With the help of archives, drawings, photographs and testimonies, the exhibition explores the genesis of this major project, which has remained little known to the general public until now.

The exhibition also addresses another forgotten aspect of Sol LeWitt's career: the close relationships that the artist developed throughout his career with collectors, gallery owners and artists based in Belgium. Amongst other things, Wall Drawing #138, first produced in Brussels in the MTL gallery - which played a pioneering role in the introduction of conceptual art in Belgium - is being presented, as well as Sol LeWitt's collaboration with the architect Charles Vandenhove on the design of the University Hospital in Liège.

All the works shown in the exhibition come from Belgian public and private collections, as well as from the LeWitt Collection. As for the Wall Drawings, installed directly on the walls of the Jewish Museum of Belgium, the installation is an exceptional participatory experience, bringing together young artists and art students based in Brussels alongside professional draughtsmen from the LeWitt studio. For each wall drawing, teams are formed around a professional assistant who works alongside and guides their local apprentices. This educational initiative is a unique opportunity for them to be involved in the creative process of one of the greatest American artists.

Finally, the exhibition at the Jewish Museum of Belgium is the occasion to launch in Europe an application for smartphones dedicated to the artist and his work, developed by Microsoft with the LeWitt Collection. In keeping with Sol LeWitt's desire to make art accessible to all, this application will offer visitors a unique immersive and educational experience.