Sam Gilliam Paintings
American, 1933-2022
Postwar American artist Sam Gilliam was an innovative Color Field painter and lyrical abstractionist perhaps best known for working directly on draped, unprimed canvases freed from their stretcher bars in as early as the mid-1960s.
Born in Tupelo, Mississippi, and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Gilliam studied art at the University of Louisville, earning both undergraduate and graduate degrees in fine art. He moved to Washington, D.C., in 1962, where he became associated with the Washington Color School. Inspired by the vibrant hues of German Expressionism, Gilliam pushed the limits of his medium by eliminating the use of easels and stretchers. Instead, he painted on draped canvases suspended from the walls and the ceiling of his studio.
Overlooked at first, the resulting works, radiant and rippling with energy, would become universally recognized as a hallmark of Gilliam’s oeuvre. Later in his career, he would draw inspiration from jazz and textile artistry, creating improvisational collage-style “quilted” paintings on nylon or canvas that recall quilt patterns.
In 1972, Gilliam became the first Black artist to represent the United States at the Venice Biennale; he also exhibited at the 2017 Venice Biennale. His works can be found in more than 50 public collections around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Corcoran Gallery of Art (now the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design) in Washington, D.C., the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Paris Museum of Modern Art, among many others. Gilliam’s awards include the United States State Department Medal of Arts, the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship and more.
Find original Sam Gilliam prints and other art on 1stDibs.
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Artist: Sam Gilliam
Sam Gilliam Handmade Paper "Untitled #34" Acrylic. Signed & Dated
By Sam Gilliam
Located in Detroit, MI
“Untitled #34” was created by Sam Gilliam, one of the great innovators in postwar American painting. It is dated and signed on the lower front. The thick handmade paper is rich with folds and texture and the colors lively. In addition to Acrylic paint on the surface there appears to be imbedded color in the handmade paper which has additional embossed accents. Unframed the piece measures 16 x 14. Provenance of Yaw Gallery, Birmingham, Michigan is on the verso along with the note that the Paper Surfaces in contact with this artwork are acid free.
In the mid-1960s he emerged from the Washington D.C. scene with works that elaborated upon and disrupted the ethos of Color School painting. A series of formal breakthroughs would soon result in his canonical Drape paintings, which expanded upon the tenets of Abstract Expressionism in entirely new ways. One profound manner was the sculpture aspect of the painting giving it a free flowing expression of pure color.
In the latter half of the 1950s, Washington D.C. saw a flourishing of abstract art that emphasized the form-making capabilities of pure color. Known as The Washington Color School, the loosely affiliated group of abstract painters knew each other through various teaching experiences. The moniker has an uncertain origin but likely originated with the title of a 1965 exhibition at the Washington Gallery of Modern Art, "Washington Color Painters," curated by Gerald Nordland. The show exhibited the works of Kenneth Noland, Paul Reed, Morris Louis, Howard Mehring, Thomas Downing, and Gene Davis. Additionally, Leon Berkowitz...
Category
1970s Abstract Expressionist Sam Gilliam Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Handmade Paper
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Sam Gilliam paintings for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Sam Gilliam paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Sam Gilliam in acrylic paint, handmade paper, paint and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the abstract style. Not every interior allows for large Sam Gilliam paintings, so small editions measuring 20 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Arthur Pinajian, Sherron Francis, and Todd Boppel. Sam Gilliam paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $8,400 and tops out at $31,500, while the average work can sell for $19,950.
Artists Similar to Sam Gilliam
Questions About Sam Gilliam Paintings
- What is Sam Gilliam known for?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022American artist Sam Gilliam is best known for his contributions to the Washington Color School movement through his famed ‘drape paintings’. He is credited as being the first artist to engage with idea of a draped, painted canvas without stretcher bars during the 1960s. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of expertly-vetted Sam Gilliam pieces from some of the world’s top art dealers.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022African-American artist Sam Gilliam is considered a color field painter and a lyrical abstractionist. He is most well-known for his large works in the late 1960s and early 1970s, which featured painted canvases draped from walls and ceilings. On 1stDibs, find a variety of original artwork from top artists.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 15, 2024How much a Sam Gilliam painting is worth depends on its subject, condition and other factors. His 1971 painting Lady Day II was sold for over $2 million in an auction at Christie’s New York in 2018, setting a new record for the artist. The postwar American artist was an innovative Color Field painter and lyrical abstractionist, perhaps best known for working directly on draped, unprimed canvases freed from their stretcher bars as early as the mid-1960s. In 1972, he became the first Black artist to represent the United States at the Venice Biennale. If you own a Gilliam painting, a certified appraiser or knowledgeable art dealer can evaluate your piece and give you an estimate of its value. On 1stDibs, find a collection of Sam Gilliam art.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 30, 2024How much a Sam Gilliam painting is worth depends on its history, size, condition and other factors. In 2018, the artist’s acrylic on canvas painting Lady Day II sold for more than $2.1 million at auction in New York City. Postwar American artist Sam Gilliam was an innovative Color Field painter and lyrical abstractionist perhaps best known for working directly on draped, unprimed canvases freed from their stretcher bars as early as the mid-1960s. In 1972, Gilliam became the first Black artist to represent the United States at the Venice Biennale. If you own a Gilliam painting, a certified appraiser or experienced art dealer can assist you with the valuation process. Explore an assortment of Sam Gilliam art on 1stDibs.