Black Garland 2011

Sam Gilliam made "Black Garland", an intriguing work that really messes with your sense of space and surface. It's not just paint on canvas; it’s about how the colors bleed and blend, a process that feels very intuitive. The material has this amazing texture, where the paint seems to soak into the fabric, creating a sense of depth. Look at how the dark hues gather at the lower edges, almost like shadows, giving the piece a weighty feel. Then, your eyes move to the lighter parts, where the color thins out, and the whole thing seems to float. Gilliam's work reminds me a bit of Helen Frankenthaler, but with more of a sculptural twist. Ultimately, it's a conversation about what painting can be, pushing against boundaries and asking us to see the world in a new way. It invites you to get lost in its folds and find something different each time.