the collector's folio

Sam Gilliam Most Popular Paintings

The 21 artworks by Sam Gilliam our visitors ask for most, ranked by popularity and presented one by one, with the specification and the price of each hand-painted reproduction.

Edition 2026 · 21 artworks Each artwork painted to order
Linen canvas · Certificate of authenticity · Delivered worldwide Sam Gilliam · 1933 – 2022

Whirlirama

1970

An explosion of vibrant purple, blue, and gold colors defines this abstract tree painting by Sam Gilliam from 1970, offering a masterful display of texture and motion that invites you to bring this masterpiece home.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 1 of 30 artworks by Sam Gilliam
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17732 × 31 cm Commission this artwork

Red Petals

1967 · The Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C. · original 223 x 236 cm

‘Red Petals’ by Sam Gilliam (1967) is an acrylic on canvas piece measuring 223 x 236 cm housed at The Phillips Collection in Washington D.C., embodying the Lyrical Abstraction movement. Gilliam pioneered a revolutionary approach to painting, utilizing gravity and spontaneous application of paint onto unstretched canvas to create dynamic biomorphic forms.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 2 of 30 artworks by Sam Gilliam
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17733 × 31 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$1670236 × 223 cm Commission at original size

Swing

1969 · original 304 x 720 cm

Experience Sam Gilliam's 'Swing' (1969): A monumental acrylic masterpiece blending abstract expressionism & textile art. Vibrant colors, fluid forms evoke emotion.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 3 of 30 artworks by Sam Gilliam
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17732 × 31 cm Commission this artwork

Light Fan

1966 · original 92 x 91 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 4 of 30 artworks by Sam Gilliam
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17731 × 32 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$39491 × 92 cm Commission at original size

Untitled

1968 · The Newark Museum of Art, Newark

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 5 of 30 artworks by Sam Gilliam
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Open Cylinder

1979 · original 205 x 117 cm

Explore Sam Gilliam’s ‘Open Cylinder’ (1979): A vibrant abstract oil painting featuring layered textures & dynamic shapes. Color Field & Abstract Expressionism at its finest.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 6 of 30 artworks by Sam Gilliam
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17731 × 32 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$846117 × 205 cm Commission at original size

Red Hot New Haven

1987

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 7 of 30 artworks by Sam Gilliam
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17727 × 37 cm Commission this artwork

Shoot Six

1965 · original 142 x 142 cm

Explore Sam Gilliam’s ‘Shoot Six’ (1965): A vibrant abstract masterpiece featuring bold diagonal stripes & layered color. Op Art influence, acrylic on canvas – a dynamic piece for art collectors.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 8 of 30 artworks by Sam Gilliam
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17732 × 32 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$736142 × 142 cm Commission at original size

(Untitled)

1971 · original 35 x 46 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 9 of 30 artworks by Sam Gilliam
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17736 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$19546 × 35 cm Commission at original size

Cozy (diptych)

1979 · Spelman College Museum of Fine Art, Atlanta

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 10 of 30 artworks by Sam Gilliam
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17723 × 44 cm Commission this artwork

The Petition

1990

Explore 'The Petition' by Sam Gilliam (1990), a layered abstract masterpiece blending Color Field & Cubist influences. Drenched blues, dynamic circles & textured lines evoke cycles & interconnectedness.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 11 of 30 artworks by Sam Gilliam
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled 1

original 120 x 234 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 12 of 30 artworks by Sam Gilliam
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17744 × 23 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$965234 × 120 cm Commission at original size

Green Web

1967 · original 230 x 101 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 13 of 30 artworks by Sam Gilliam
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17721 × 48 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$825101 × 230 cm Commission at original size

Yellow Edge

1972 · original 140 x 114 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 14 of 30 artworks by Sam Gilliam
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17735 × 29 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$614140 × 114 cm Commission at original size

Leah's Renoir

1979 · original 203 x 495 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 15 of 30 artworks by Sam Gilliam
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17749 × 20 cm Commission this artwork

Day Tripper

1971

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 16 of 30 artworks by Sam Gilliam
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17732 × 32 cm Commission this artwork

April 4

1969 · original 279 x 457 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 17 of 30 artworks by Sam Gilliam
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17741 × 24 cm Commission this artwork

Nile

1972 · original 63 x 45 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 18 of 30 artworks by Sam Gilliam
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17727 × 37 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$23145 × 63 cm Commission at original size

Carousel State

1968 · original 399 x 671 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 19 of 30 artworks by Sam Gilliam
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17737 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Art Ramp Angle Brown

1978 · original 91 x 616 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 20 of 30 artworks by Sam Gilliam
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Relative

1968 · original 305 x 412 cm

Explore Sam Gilliam’s ‘Relative’ (1968): A vibrant, layered abstract textile painting embodying Color Field movement & lyrical abstraction. Discover its dynamic form & rich hues.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 21 of 30 artworks by Sam Gilliam
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17740 × 25 cm Commission this artwork

The artist

Sam Gilliam

1933 – 2022

Quick facts

Creative periodsmature period
Typical colorsputty
Movementsabstract expressionism
Copyright statusUnder copyright
Room fitliving room
Top-ranked workWhirlirama
Born1933, Tupelo, United States
Lifespan89 years

Biography

A Life Painted in Motion: The World of Sam Gilliam

Sam Gilliam, born November 30, 1933, in Tupelo, Mississippi, and passing on June 25, 2022, was more than just a painter; he was an innovator who fundamentally altered our perception of what painting could be. His journey began with humble roots – his father a railroad worker, his mother a homemaker – and a subsequent move to Louisville, Kentucky, shortly after his birth. Even as a child, the seeds of artistic expression were sown, manifesting in early cartoon drawings that hinted at the creative force within. Gilliam’s formal education at the University of Louisville, where he earned both a B.A. (1955) and an M.A. (1961) in Fine Art, provided him with a foundation, but it was his life experiences – including service in the United States Army from 1956 to 1958 – that would truly shape his artistic vision. The move to Washington D.C. in 1962, alongside his wife Dorothy Butler, proved pivotal, placing him at the heart of a burgeoning art scene and setting the stage for a career defined by groundbreaking experimentation.

Breaking Boundaries: From Color Field to Sculptural Space

Gilliam’s early work aligned with the Washington Color School, a movement characterized by its exploration of color field painting – large expanses of flat, saturated hues intended to evoke emotional responses through pure chromatic experience. However, he quickly distinguished himself from his peers. While artists like Morris Louis and Kenneth Noland focused on staining canvases stretched tautly across frames, Gilliam began to question the very necessity of the stretcher itself. Around 1965, a revolutionary idea took hold: what if the canvas could be *freed*? This led to his iconic “Drape Paintings,” works that involved suspending unstretched or loosely draped fabric from ceilings and walls, allowing them to interact dynamically with their surrounding space. These weren’t merely paintings; they were sculptural interventions, shifting and changing with air currents and viewer perspective. It was a radical departure, transforming painting into an immersive, three-dimensional experience. This innovation wasn't born of abstract theory but practical observation – the simple act of laundry billowing in the breeze outside his studio sparked the initial concept. Later explorations saw him incorporating diverse materials—polypropylene, computer-generated imagery, metallic and iridescent acrylics, handmade paper, aluminum, steel, plywood, and plastic—further pushing the boundaries of artistic possibility. The 1970s brought forth the dynamic “Black Paintings,” geometric collages imbued with a jazz-inspired energy reminiscent of Miles Davis and John Coltrane, while the 1980s saw the emergence of "Quilted Paintings," echoing the African patchwork quilts of his childhood.

Recognition and Legacy: A Pioneer’s Impact

Gilliam's artistic courage did not go unnoticed. In 1972, he achieved a historic milestone as the first African American artist to represent the United States at the Venice Biennale, a watershed moment that shattered barriers and paved the way for greater inclusivity in the art world. Throughout his career, accolades continued to accumulate: numerous commissions, grants, awards, exhibitions, and eight honorary doctorates from prestigious institutions including Northwestern University and the University of Louisville. A major retrospective at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in 2005 solidified his place as a leading figure in American art history. He was also honored with the Norman W. Harris Prize from the Art Institute of Chicago and received an Artist's Fellowship from the Washington Gallery of Modern Art. Gilliam’s influence extends far beyond awards and exhibitions, however. His pioneering technique of draping canvases fundamentally impacted not only the Color Field movement but also the development of installation art, challenging traditional notions of painting as a fixed, two-dimensional object.

Echoes of Inspiration: Influences and Artistic Lineage

Gilliam’s artistic journey was informed by a diverse range of influences. He acknowledged early inspiration from Morris Louis and Kenneth Noland, fellow members of the Washington Color School, but his vision extended beyond their aesthetic boundaries. The emotional intensity of German Expressionists like Emil Nolde and Paul Klee resonated with him, as did the work of Nathan Oliveira from the Bay Area figurative school. Further back in art history, he found inspiration in the radical experimentation of Vladimir Tatlin, the geometric precision of Frank Stella, and the formal rigor of Hans Hofmann, Georges Braque, and Pablo Picasso. Even Paul Cézanne’s exploration of form and space left its mark on his evolving style. Yet, Gilliam wasn't simply mimicking these masters; he was synthesizing their lessons into something entirely new—a uniquely American abstract expression that embraced innovation and challenged convention.

A Lasting Impression: The Significance of Sam Gilliam’s Art

Sam Gilliam’s legacy is one of fearless experimentation, unwavering artistic integrity, and a profound contribution to the evolution of abstraction. He didn't just paint; he redefined painting itself, liberating it from its traditional constraints and transforming it into a dynamic, immersive experience. As an African American artist achieving international recognition during a period of significant social change, Gilliam also broke down barriers and inspired generations of artists of color. His work continues to resonate today, reminding us that art has the power to challenge perceptions, expand possibilities, and ultimately, transform the way we see the world. He leaves behind not just a body of stunning artwork but a testament to the enduring power of artistic vision and the courage to forge one’s own path.

Questions & Answers

What are the birthplace and birth year of Sam Gilliam?

Sam Gilliam was born in Tupelo in 1933.

Which artworks by Sam Gilliam are the most viewed?

The Stats page of Sam Gilliam presents statistics computed from the artist's artworks listed on this website.

Can I browse Sam Gilliam's works by color palette?

Sam Gilliam's works can be browsed by color palette on the artist's By Palettes page.

By the WikiOO.org Editorial Team Updated Aug. 31, 2026

Collector's quiz

Sam Gilliam is best known for pioneering what innovative technique in painting?
In what year did Sam Gilliam become the first African American artist to represent the U.S. at the Venice Biennale?
Which art movement was Sam Gilliam initially associated with in Washington, D.C.?
What inspired Gilliam's idea of draped canvases?
Besides painting, what other materials did Sam Gilliam experiment with in his later works?

one You choose the size

Standard formats or any custom dimension, matched to the proportions of the original.

two We paint and send a preview

A photo of the finished canvas for your approval before it is shipped.

three Delivered, certified

Rolled, stretched or framed, insured, with a certificate of authenticity.

Commission your Sam Gilliam

Every artwork by Sam Gilliam in our catalog can be painted to order, in the size that suits the room.

All artworks by Sam Gilliam