In the 2000s, Sam Gilliam's art continued to innovate and push the boundaries of abstract painting and sculpture. Gilliam, renowned for his contributions to the Washington Color School and his distinctive Drape paintings, ventured into new creative territories during this period, synthesizing various aspects of his long and varied practice. One of the notable developments in Gilliam's work during this time was his exploration of tondo (circular) works. These pieces stood out for their bold use of color and incorporation of metallic frames, which added a sculptural dimension. Gilliam employed a variety of tools, including metal rakes, to create textured surfaces on these paintings, revealing the complex layers beneath. These tondo works were recognized for marrying the form often associated with Renaissance painting with the aesthetics of Abstract Expressionism and Minimalism. His continued exploration and combination of different artistic threads highlight his relentless innovation and the breadth of his practice spanning over several decades (Pace Gallery). Furthermore, Gilliam's art in the 2000s and beyond remained deeply engaged with the physical properties of his materials, as evidenced by his ongoing work with collages. This period saw him incorporating more visually complex and busy patterns, colors, and overlapping shapes into his collages, showing the influence of quilting on these later works. By merging painted canvases in new ways, Gilliam emphasized the transformative potential of canvas as a material, further blurring the lines between painting, sculpture, and other artistic traditions (TheCollector). Sam Gilliam's contributions to the art world in the 2000s and his later years reaffirm his status as a pioneering figure in American abstraction. His willingness to explore and innovate within his practice, from his sculptural explorations in the tondo form to his textured and layered collages, underscores a career defined by constant experimentation and a profound impact on the trajectory of abstract art.
