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Sam Gilliam
Untitled, Ex-Museum of Modern Art Collection & Exhibit with original MOMA label

1968

About the Item

Sam Gilliam Untitled, Ex-Museum of Modern Art Collection, 1968 Watercolor and Aluminum Paint on Fiberglass Paper. (Framed with Museum of Modern Art Collection Label Verso and Exhibition brochure from the American Embassy Exhibition in Moscow) 18 × 23 1/2 in 45.7 × 59.7 cm Frame included This is a unique work Original late 1960s painting created with watercolor and aluminum paint on fiberglass paper. Signed 'Sam Gilliam' lower right, with label from The Museum of Modern Art, NY. , including the museum collection number. Sam Gilliam's works from the 1960s are rarely seen and in great demand; especially the present work with such fascinating history: This work was also featured in the exhibition "American Contemporary Art" at the American Embassy in Moscow, curated by Margaret Patter, Associate Curator, Department of Painting and Sculpture, The Museum of Modern Art. Accompanying this work is an undated xerox copy of the exhibition brochure, in both English and Russian. The curator describes this important Gilliam work from MOMA's Collection: "One of the consistent themes of Abstract Expressionism was the dual nature of a painting; its existence as symbolic expression and as a physical object made of flat canvas and fluid paint. In granting a dominant role to the artist's intuition, the Abstract Expressionists made a virtue of the accidental splashes and drips of paint which resulted from spontaneous use of paint and accepted these as integral elements of the total expression. Subsequently, a number of painters and sculptors have pursued further one aspect of this duality by concentrating on the physical attributes of their media. Rejecting a preconceived image or one which evolves during the process of painting, these artists have permitted the nature of the medium itself to determine the image. In his untitled watercolor of 1968, Sam Gilliam, a young Negro [sic] artist from Washington, D.C. soaked color in an especially absorbent paper and then folded it several times. The interaction of the materials and the process, rather than the artist's touch and decision, brought about the random blots of color. To contrast with the textural softness and depth, the artist has covered parts of the surface with aluminum paint whose stuff glitter and deliberate lack of formal structure further stress the intrinsic qualities of the paint and paper rather than the artist's participation. This frank emphasis on the physical aspects of the artist's means and activity reflect a diffidence toward self-revelation and the assignment of symbolic values to art, a trend which has become increasingly common in recent American art." (Text also translated into Russian.) Measurements: 18 x 23 1/2 in. (sheet); 26 x 31 in. (frame). In 2017, this work was featured in the exhibition "The Anxiety of Influence" at Chapter New York Gallery in Manhattan. See attached Installation photos. Exhibition History: "American Contemporary Art", American Embassy, Moscow, Catalogue Essay by Margaret Patter, Associate Curator, Department of Painting and Sculpture, The Museum of Modern Art, New York (ca. 1970), with reproductions and essay about this work. "The Anxiety of Influence", curated by Alex Glauber, November 10 – December 22, 2017 Below are some recent comparables for Gilliam watercolors, though none have such distinguished museum provenance, and none are from the late 1960s: Sam Gilliam Title Untitled Description SAM GILLIAM (B. 1933) Untitled signed and dated 'Sam Gilliam, 2021' (lower right) watercolor on washi paper 39 x 72 in. (99.1 x 182.9 cm.) Executed in 2021. Medium watercolor on washi paper Year of Work 2021 Size Height 39 in.; Width 72 in. / Height 99.1 cm.; Width 182.9 cm. Misc. Signed Sale of Christie's New York: Friday, November 12, 2021 [Lot 00137] Post-War and Contemporary Art Day Sale Sold For 187,500 USD Premium Sam Gilliam Title Untitled Description signed “S. Gilliam” lower right acrylic and watercolor on handmade paper 18 x 23 1/2 in. (45.7 x 59.7 cm) Executed circa 1970. Medium acrylic and watercolor on handmade paper Year of Work1970 Size Height 18 in.; Width 23.5 in. / Height 45.7 cm.; Width 59.7 cm. Misc. Signed Sale of Phillips New York: Thursday, May 19, 2022 [Lot 00189] 20th Century & Contemporary Art Day Sale, Morning Session Sold For 88,200 USD Premium Provenance Private Collection, Alexandria Acquired from the above by the present owner in 2017
  • Creator:
    Sam Gilliam (1933, American)
  • Creation Year:
    1968
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 26 in (66.04 cm)Width: 31 in (78.74 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
  • Medium:
    Fiberglass,Paint,Watercolor
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    Held in original vintage 1960s frame with the original label Age toning to the original matting and frame vintage. Work itself is in excellent condition.
  • Gallery Location:
    New York, NY
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1745211089962
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