Abstract artist Sam Gilliam was an innovative figure in American painting during the 1960s. Taking inspiration from the improvisational nature of jazz, he created experimental work that embodied “an increasing variety of forms, moods, and materials.” Gilliam was known for his hallmark drape paintings, in which lengths of painted canvas were suspended from the walls or ceilings of exhibition spaces. “We need to continue to think about the whole of what art is, what it does,” he said. “Even though my work is not overtly political, I believe art has the ability to call attention to politics and to remind us of this potential through its presence.”
Source: David Kordansky Gallery, Artnet
