Last September IV

Artist Sam Gilliam American, 1933–2022

Date1973

MediumAcrylic on canvas

Dimensions57 x 71 1/2 x 2 1/4 in. (144.8 x 181.6 x 5.7 cm)

ClassificationsPaintings

Credit LinePurchased with funds from the National Endowment for the Arts and the North Carolina State Art Society (Robert F. Phifer Bequest)

Object numberG.75.11.2

On View

Not on view

Label TextThroughout his esteemed career, Sam Gilliam has spoken frequently about the influence of jazz on his art. Similar to many musical arrangements, Gilliam’s paintings engage multiple components simultaneously. He often applies paint freely to pliable canvases, then folds the pieces to allow the colors to permeate. This process results in layered, dynamic compositions filled with sections of color and texture.

Overall, Gilliam’s abstractions prioritize liberation and improvisation over structure and convention. This experimental approach to the physical material also allows him to remain fluid in his engagement with the emotional aspects of his work, including questions of race and self-identity.

[The People's Collection, Reimagined - The Arts, 2022]ProvenanceCreated Washington, D.C., 1973; collection of the artist; [Fendrick Gallery, Washington, D.C.]; sold to NCMA, 1975.
Published References"Recent Acquisitions," North Carolina Museum of Art Bulletin 13, nos. 1 and 2 (1975), cat. no. 13, illus. (b-w).
Exhibition HistoryRaleigh, NC, North Carolina Museum of Art, "Recent Acquisitions," November 23, 1975–March 7, 1976, cat. no. 13, illus. (b-w).

Raleigh, NC, North Carolina Museum of Art, permanent collection installation, January 1, 2010–August 15, 2011.

Raleigh, NC, North Carolina Museum of Art, "The People's Collection, Reimagined," October 7, 2022–June 14, 2024. Object Rights Statement

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