Early Sam Gilliam (American, 1933-2022) Oil on Canvas
Framed oil on canvas using mixed media. Boldly signed and dated (19)71 on the reverse. Measures 20" by 25". Artist's Biography: Gilliam was a highly acclaimed American abstract painter, sculptor, and arts educator. Born in Mississippi, and raised in Kentucky, he spent his adult life in Washington, D.C., eventually being described as the "Dean" of the city's arts community. Originally associated with the Washington Color School, a group of D.C.-area artists that developed a form of abstract art from color field painting in the 1950's and 1960's, Gilliam moved beyond the group's core aesthetics of flat fields of color in the mid-60's by introducing both process and sculptural elements to his paintings. He produced art in a wide range of styles and materials, exploring the boundaries between painting, sculpture, and printmaking. In the 1980's and 1990's his art was widely exhibited while he completed numerous large-scale public and private commissions. His works have long drawn critical acclaim and his contributions to the ‘Contemporary Art World' are widely published and viewed with high esteem. His primary body of American Abstract Expressionist work is further described and classified as ‘Lyrical Abstraction'. An art movement that included the likes of Hans Hartung, Arshile Gorky, Sam Francis, Paul Jenkins, Joan Mitchell, and other notable Expressionist Masters. Late career milestones of his included creating a work for permanent display in the lobby of the then-newly opened National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2016, and, exhibiting yet again for a second time at the Venice Biennale in 2017. He has vast auction records with a record price of $2,172,500, achieved for his 1971 canvas "Lady Day II", sold at Christie's New York in 2018. Last sale record of the abstract artwork offered here - Clars Auction Gallery, 10/08/06, Lot #2254, and held in a private Nashville, Tennessee collection since.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Other, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Pickup of items won will be appointment only. Please call Dave Diederich at 859 745 2900 to schedule your appointment. We have a lot of items to move out and desire to empty our venue as soon as we can to allow items coming in for the next sale.
If you have not paid online, then payment can be made at pickup. Please bring your own packaging and additional help if needed for loading items. All removals must be completed in a professional and tidy manner. Not responsible for accidents.
For those buyers who wish to have their merchandise sent or who are out of the area and will not pick the items up, shipping arrangements can be made through the buyer's own shipper as Diederich Auction Gallery does not provide in-house packing or shipping. All packing and shipping of merchandise will be at the risk and expense of the buyer. A list of shippers that have been used by past customers is below: It is the buyer's responsibility to contact the shipper and then contact Dave Diederich at 859 745 2900 to communicate which shipper you are using so we can coordinate getting it into their hands.

For smaller items:
UPS Store, Winchester, Ky. 859 745 4422, [email protected]
The Mailroom, Lexington, Ky.: 859 268 0206, [email protected]

For freight, furniture and long distance items:
Kerry Baird, Crosstown Movers. Lexington, Ky. 859 229 8029
RB Shipping, Atlanta, Ga. 404 524 9122 or [email protected]

Shippers are independent of Diederich Auction Gallery and are not endorsed by it; therefore, we are not responsible for problems associated with shipping. Merchandise is stored at the risk of the purchaser.

by Diederich Auction Gallery
May 11, 2025 6:00 PM EDT
31 W. Hickman St.
Winchester, KY, US 40391

Diederich Auction Gallery

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 15% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $5
$100 $249 $10
$250 $999 $25
$1,000 $4,999 $50
$5,000 $9,999 $100
$10,000 + $250