Purple Antelope Space Squeeze, 1987

Sam Gilliam is an American artist best known for his abstract paintings, which are often composed of brightly-colored fabric draped in various ways.
Gilliam first gained recognition in the 1960s for his innovative use of found materials, such as discarded clothing and pieces of cloth, which he would then manipulate into geometric shapes. Gilliam's work is often associated with the Color Field and Lyrical Abstraction movements, both of which emphasize the use of color and brushwork to create a sense of harmony and emotional resonance.
In recent years, Gilliam has begun experimenting with new mediums, including video and photography. However, his signature style remains recognizable regardless of the medium he is working in.
Recent solo exhibitions of Gilliam's work have been held at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles.
Gilliam has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors over the course of his career, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and the National Endowment for the Arts Visual Artist Fellowship. His work can be found in the collections of many prestigious institutions, such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Tate Gallery in London. Gilliam's art has been praised for its ability to transcend traditional boundaries, both stylistically and thematically.
As one critic has noted, "Gilliam's art is about freedom-the freedom to explore, to experiment, and to create art that is at once beautiful and thought-provoking." This commitment to pushing the boundaries of art has made Gilliam one of the most important figures in American art today.