Installation view of “Sam Gilliam: The Last Five Years” at David Kordansky Gallery in Los Angeles. The exhibition showcases a collection of drape paintings created by the artist in 2018. | Courtesy David Kordansky Gallery
In Los Angeles, the South Gallery at David Kordansky Gallery is adorned with a vibrant array of color-soaked canvases, presenting a captivating and immersive visual spectacle. These striking works are “drape” paintings produced in 2018 by the renowned artist Sam Gilliam (1933-2022).
In 1962, Gilliam relocated to Washington, D.C., where he engaged with artists from the Washington Color School and formed a bond with Alma Thomas, another African American abstract artist (who was four decades his senior). By the late 1960s, he began exploring new formats for his art, pushing the boundaries of two-dimensional presentation to introduce his abstract paintings in fresh and innovative ways.
One of his most significant creative gestures was removing his canvases from their stretcher bars, allowing them to exist freely and dynamically, ready for expressive display. Gilliam presented his paintings as sculptural entities, elegantly draping them from ceilings, positioning them against walls, and setting them on sawhorses. This approach evolved over the course of his career, becoming a hallmark of his artistic repertoire.
At David Kordansky Gallery, the centerpiece of “Sam Gilliam: The Last Five Years” is a collection of nearly 20 drape paintings, offering an overview of the artist’s output from 2018 to 2022, the final phase of his prolific career.
“He was talking about freedom and he was talking about expression and he was talking about a commitment to abstract art, experimentation.”
– Jenn De Palma, Sam Gilliam Studio
An introduction to Sam Gilliam’s “The Last Five Years” exhibition at David Kordansky Gallery in Los Angeles, featuring insights from Jenn De Palma of the artist’s studio; Naima J. Keith of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; and Teresa Eggers of David Kordansky Gallery. | Video by David Kordansky Gallery
Developed collaboratively by David Kordansky Gallery and Pace Gallery, “The Last Five Years” is a dual-part exhibit. Last fall, Pace Gallery hosted one segment in New York. Currently on display in Los Angeles, David Kordansky’s installment includes thirty-six works across three categories: drape paintings (2018), tondo (round) paintings (2022), and watercolors on paper (2022, with a selection from 2014).
“It’s a comprehensive celebration of Sam in all three galleries,” remarked Jenn De Palma in a recent video released by David Kordansky Gallery.
The video provides an overview of the exhibition and incorporates commentary from De Palma, who collaborated with Gilliam in his studio; Naima J. Keith, vice president of education and public programs at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; and Teresa Eggers, director of institutional relations at David Kordansky.
“He lived this life, born in Tupelo, Mississippi in 1933. His paintings spoke volumes beyond mere aesthetics, conveying messages about freedom, expression, and a dedication to abstract art through experimentation,” shared De Palma.
“He once mentioned something to me; that it’s not about creating something entirely new, but about imbuing it with your essence. Despite being an incessant innovator, he strived to create works that were uniquely his. He was on a quest to establish his own path in the art world, and this was his chosen form of expression. We are fortunate to be able to witness and appreciate that. Not everyone is as generous in sharing their experiences as Sam was.” CT
“Sam Gilliam: The Last Five Years” was showcased at David Kordansky Gallery in Los Angeles, Calif., from Jan. 13-March 3, 2024
On March 2, 2024, the exhibition “Sam Gilliam: The Last Five Years” concluded with a dialogue about the artist and his work, featuring Thelma Golden, Director and Chief Curator of the Studio Museum in Harlem, and Naima J. Keith, vice president of education and public programs at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, with Teresa Eggers moderating the discussion. | Video by David Kordansky Gallery
BOOKSHELF
The exhibition “Sam Gilliam: The Last Five Years” is accompanied by a catalog jointly published by Pace and David Kordansky galleries. Released in 2021, “Sam Gilliam” includes an interview with the artist by Hans Ulrich Obri and new research from Courtney J. Martin and Fred Moten. Other recommended readings feature “Sam Gilliam: The Music of Color: 1967–1973” (2018) and “Sam Gilliam: A Retrospective” (2005), among various publications delving into the artist’s body of work.
