Consigning the works of Sam Gilliam

2. 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. 

3. 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.