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Lawrence Weiner Paintings: The 11 Most Famous, Through a Gallery's Eye
Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 11 works by Lawrence Weiner in our catalogue
In short
To the gallery's eye, Lawrence Weiner's most famous painting is Turf, Stake and String from S.M.S. No. 5 (1968). Slow Corrosion Leading to a Loss of Inherent Diginity of the Object at Hand (1985) and A 36 x 36 removal to the lathing or support wall of plaster or wallboard from a wall (1968) complete the trio every eye recognises. Of the 11 works by Lawrence Weiner in our catalog, the gallery presents the 11 most famous below, each original with its year, its museum and what makes it unique.
1942 – 2021, Manhattan
Most works: Serralves Foundation
The gallery's top 10 Lawrence Weiner paintings
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A 36 x 36 removal to the lathing or support wall of plaster or wallboard from a wall
A Study in Texture: Lawrence Weiner's "Removal" Lawrence Weiner’s 1968 work, “A 36 x 36 removal to the lathing or support wall of plaster or wallboard from a wall,” is far more than its seemingly straightforward title suggests. It represents a pivotal moment in Conceptual Art, moving away from traditional artistic creation and focusing instead on the idea itself. This piece isn't about what *is* present, but rather what has…
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Lawrence Weiner paintings, ranked 11 to 11
The museums that keep Lawrence Weiner's originals
The 3 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Lawrence Weiner | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Serralves Foundation |
Porto | 1 | The Level of Water |
 Art Institute of Chicago |
Chicago | 1 | TAKEN FROM HERE TO WHERE IT CAME FROM AND TAKEN TO A PLACE AND USED IN SUCH A MANNER THAT IT CAN ONLY REMAIN AS A REPRESENTATION OF WHAT IT WAS WHERE IT CAME FROM |
 Museu d'Art Contemporani |
Barcelona | 1 | Some Objects of Desire |
Lawrence Weiner, one signature painting per decade
Works per decade
Pick a decade to see the original that defines it.
1980s
Slow Corrosion Leading to a Loss of Inherent Diginity of the Object at Hand
Age 38 – 47
3 works this decade
Lawrence Weiner's paintings: the gallery answers
Which Lawrence Weiner painting is the most famous of all?Reveal the answer
Turf, Stake and String from S.M.S. No. 5 (1968). Slow Corrosion Leading to a Loss of Inherent Diginity of the Object at Hand (1985) and A 36 x 36 removal to the lathing or support wall of plaster or wallboard from a wall (1968) come next.
How old was Lawrence Weiner on completing Turf, Stake and String from S.M.S. No. 5?Reveal the answer
26 years old: Turf, Stake and String from S.M.S. No. 5 dates from 1968, and Lawrence Weiner was born in 1942.
Which are Lawrence Weiner's top 10 paintings?Reveal the answer
Turf, Stake and String from S.M.S. No. 5, Slow Corrosion Leading to a Loss of Inherent Diginity of the Object at Hand, A 36 x 36 removal to the lathing or support wall of plaster or wallboard from a wall, The Level of Water, With a Relation to the Various Manners of Placement and or Location, TAKEN FROM HERE TO WHERE IT CAME FROM AND TAKEN TO A PLACE AND USED IN SUCH A MANNER THAT IT CAN ONLY REMAIN AS A REPRESENTATION OF WHAT IT WAS WHERE IT CAME FROM, Altered to Suit A Film of Lawrence Weiner, CRUSHED BETWEEN COBBLESTONES, As Time Goes By and Wind and the Willows What's Our Hero To Do. The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.
How many works did Lawrence Weiner create?Reveal the answer
Our catalog holds 11 works by Lawrence Weiner, dated from 1968 to 2004.
Where do Lawrence Weiner's most famous originals hang?Reveal the answer
Mostly in Serralves Foundation (Porto), Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago) and Museu d'Art Contemporani (Barcelona). The museum table above lists them all.
When did Lawrence Weiner create the most famous paintings?Reveal the answer
In 1970s: 3 of the 11 works on this page were made then, The Level of Water among them.
Which are Lawrence Weiner's earliest and latest famous works?Reveal the answer
On this page, the earliest is Turf, Stake and String from S.M.S. No. 5 (1968) and the latest Some Objects of Desire (2004).
Lawrence Weiner: the artist
The Language of Materiality
Lawrence Weiner was an American conceptual artist born in Manhattan, United States. His practice centered on the use of language as a sculptural medium, often utilizing wall texts and statements to describe sculptural processes and materials. He developed a framework known as the Declaration of Intent, which established that a piece may be constructed, fabricated, or may not need to be built at all, leaving the final condition to the receiver. His work explored the relationship between language, materials, and space, often focusing on the inherent properties of substances like wood, stone, and metal.
Throughout his career, Weiner's work was presented in various formats, including:
Exhibitions and Recognition
Weiner's work has been showcased in numerous international institutions, including the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C., and the Tate Gallery in London. His exhibitions spanned various locations, such as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Museum Ludwig in Cologne. He participated in several Documenta exhibitions and the Venice Biennale.
His professional recognition included several honors, such as: