Consigning the works of Sam Gilliam

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Sam Gilliam redefined abstract expressionism
through his boundary-breaking approach, freeing
his paintings from the tradition rectangular form
of the canvas.  Born in 1933, Gilliam emerged as
a prominent figure in the Washington Color School
during the 1960s. Gilliam received his formal
education at the University of Louisville School
of Art.  It was during his time in Washington,
D.C., though, that Gilliam rose to prominence as
a key figure in the Washington Color School
movement.  Alongside artists like Kenneth Noland
and Morris Louis, Gilliam revolutionized abstract
painting by exploring the potential of color and
its interaction with the canvas, developing
innovative techniques including staining and
pouring paint directly onto unprimed canvases. 
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Gilliam's pioneering exploration of color, form,
and materiality combined with his innovative use
of canvas as a dynamic, three-dimensional medium
to defy conventions of technique and standard
artistic approaches.  By suspending vibrant,
stained canvases from ceilings or draping them
across architectural elements, Gilliam
transformed his paintings into immersive,
site-specific experiences.  In iconic works like
'Drape' (1968), Gilliam blurs the lines between
painting and sculpture through folds, pleats,
and color gradients, he challenges perception and
encourages viewers to engage with his art as a
process and a space.  Gilliam's approach
challenged traditional notions of painting and
resulted in sculptural works that exude vibrant
energy.  
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