With a warm Embrace (Come what May), 1995

Lawrence Weiner (b. 1942 USA, d. 2021 USA) was a pioneering American conceptual artist known for his text-based works that challenged traditional notions of art and its materiality. A central figure in the Conceptual Art movement, Weiner’s practice centered around language as a primary medium, with his art often taking the form of short, evocative statements displayed on walls, floors, or public spaces. These texts, which could be instructions, declarations, or descriptions, emphasized the idea that the concept of the artwork was as important—if not more so—than its physical manifestation. Weiner's work redefined the relationship between the artist, the artwork, and the viewer, proposing that the interpretation and understanding of art lie in the mind of the beholder. His influential career spanned over five decades, with his works exhibited in major institutions like the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Tate Modern in London, establishing him as one of the most important figures in contemporary art.