Sam Gilliam (b. 1933)
Untitled (1970)
18 x 23 inches
Ink, dye, and acrylic on paper
Signed and dated on reverse
Auction House Estimate: $8,000 - $12,000.
My Recommendation: Bid up to $24,000.
Result: $32,000 (hammer) on 8/18/20
Interested in Sam Gilliam?
Artist Profile
Born in Mississippi, Gilliam is one of the preeminent color field painters of the DC area school that includes Sam Francis, Morris Louis, and Thomas Downing. His market has taken off sharply in the past several years, achieving auction results for paintings over 1 million dollars. Bright colors and atmospheric affects are a hallmark of his work, which can be both subtle and bold in their effects. Beginning in the late 60s, Gilliam began removing his canvases from their stretchers, draping them, hanging them, and folding them resulting in works that are both painterly and sculptural. An extremely influential and pivotal artist, his rise has been long overdue. Gilliam is represented by Pace Gallery in New York and David Kordansky in LA, both exceptional galleries.
My Take
Recent comparables have sold for $40,000 to $50,000 (including buyers premium). This work on paper is a nice, colorful example of his work that other collectors will like. Although his prices have risen sharply in the past 3 years, there might be a pullback at some point - I’d be surprised if this lot isn’t bid up beyond my limit, but it is always worth a shot. I think Gilliam has another strong decade of price growth ahead of him, so even though his market has run up a lot, he’s still one to buy at the right price.