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Smashed to pieces in the still of the night - Zerschmettert in Stücke im Frieden der Nacht (Vienna, 1991)

Lawrence Weiner (born February 10, 1942) was one of the central figures of conceptual art.

He was born in the Bronx, New York.

Weiner's early work included experiments with shaped canvas, and cutting out squares from carpeting or walls. In 1968, when Sol LeWitt came up with his Paragraphs on Conceptual Art, Weiner formulated his famous Declaration of Intent (1968): "1. The artist may construct the piece. 2. The piece may be fabricated. 3. The piece need not built. Each being equal and consistent with the intent of the artist the decision as to condition rests with the receiver upon the occasion of receivership"

Weiner created his first book Statements in 1968, a small 64 page paperback with texts describing projects. Published by The Louis Kellner Foundation and Seth Siegelaub, "Statements" is considered one of the seminal conceptual artist's books of the era. He was a contributor to the famous Xeroxbook also published by Seth Siegelaub in 1968. Since the early 1970s, wall installations have been his primary medium, and he has shown at the Leo Castelli gallery. Nevertheless, Weiner works in a wide variety of media, including video, film, books, audio tapes, sculpture, performance, installation, and graphic art.

The artist Lawrence Weiner is not to be confused with the composer Lawrence Weiner, who was born in 1932.

Dieter Schwarz. ed. Lawrence Weiner: Books 1968-1989. Köln / Villeurbanne: Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther König / Le Nouveau Musée, 1989.

Bartomeu Mari & Alice Weiner. ed. Show & Tell: The Films and Videos of Lawrence Weiner. Ghent: Imschoot, 1992.

Alexander Alberro et al. Lawrence Weiner. London: Phaidon, 1998.

Gerti Fietzek & Gregor Stemmrich. ed. Having Been Said: Writings & Interviews of Lawrence Weiner 1968-2003. Ostfildern-Ruit: Hatje Cantz, 2004.

• Homeport
• Lawrence Weiner, Essay by Lynne Cooke
• Lawrence Weiner: '...and the flesh became word'
• Artist statement and bio by the Guggenheim in Berlin