Sam Gilliam Mixed Media Abstract Painting- Offered as always with No Reserve
Sam Gilliam (American, 1933-2022) was an influential African American artist who grew up in Louisville, graduated from the University of Louisville with a B.F.A.in 1955 and his M.F.A in 1961. He then moved to Washington D.C. 1962 where he lived the rest of his life. He was described as the "Dean of the Washington arts community". A quote from the Pace Gallery in New York City: Sam Gilliam was one of the great innovators in postwar American painting. He emerged from the Washington, D.C. scene in the mid 1960s with works that elaborated upon and disrupted the ethos of Color School painting.

This mixed media abstract painting is not framed, is without stretchers and painted on what best can be described as brown paper much like a grocery sack. A multitude of colors is seen with different media used on the paper which does not have a straight edge but rough edges and looks torn. It measures roughly 41 1/2" by 28" and is signed by Gilliam lower right (2nd photo). This particular work was given to a friend, Dr. Necia Harkless, who was a professor at the University of Kentucky and is dated 1986. Signed on the back by Gilliam in pencil to his friend and dated as such (see photo). Upon Dr. Harkless's death in 2015, it was acquired subsequently by our consignor.
Gilliam was the first African American artist to represent the United States in an exhibition at the Venice Biennale in 1972, and created a work for permanent display in the lobby of the then-newly opened National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2016. Very influential artist and we are proud to have this work offered in our catalog. His works are on display at leading museums around the world. Past prices for his work include a sale this year at Christies where an untitled watercolor sold for $220,500 and his record sale was for $2.172,500 at Christies in 2018.

See the other two smaller Sam Gilliam pieces in lots 37 and 63 with all offered without reserve.

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Shipping

Pickup of items won will be appointment only. We will start taking appointments on Monday, September 9 and will continue all week ending on Saturday, September 14. Call Dave Diederich at 859 745 2900 to make your appointment. We have items coming into the building starting September 15 so it is important that you help us by a timely pickup of your items.
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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 Caswell Prewitt Realty 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 Pam Murphy to communicate which shipper you are using so we can coordinate getting it into their hands. Pam's number is (859) 274-6605.


The Mailroom, Lexington, Ky - 859 268 0206, [email protected]
UPS - Winchester - 859-745-4422, [email protected]

Shippers are independent of Caswell Prewitt Realty 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 Caswell Prewitt Realty, INC
September 8, 2024 6:00 PM EDT
30 East High St.
Mt. Sterling, KY, US 40353

Caswell Prewitt Realty, INC

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