Sol LeWitt, born on 9 September 1928 in Hertford, Connecticut, is seen as the founder of conceptual art and wrote what is considered the movement’s manifesto, Paragraphs on Conceptual Art (1967). The artist created seemingly simple geometric sculptures and drawings and later designed colourful and exuberant wall paintings. He was known for his modesty, refusing to accept awards and extremely reluctant to grant interviews. For LeWitt, the idea behind a piece of art was more important than the work itself and he employed various assistants to carry out his ideas. Although he was often condemned by the more conservative art critics of the era, he became one of the most influential artists of his generation. He died on 8 April 2007 in Chester, Connecticut.