THE PRINTS OF SAM GILLIAM
from the Michael K. and Marian E. Butler Collection
Lower Level Galleries
May 26 - July 26, 2026
Although he gained widespread recognition in the 1960s as a leading figure of the Washington Color School for his sweeping, paint-saturated draped canvases, Sam Gilliam expanded the language of abstraction in the decade that followed by pushing the possibilities of printmaking.
This comprehensive exhibition brings together more than 30 standout prints created between 1972 and 2009, highlighting Gilliam’s inventive approach across media. Much like his experimental paintings, these works blur distinctions among print, painting, and sculpture, as he deconstructed traditional processes such as screenprinting and reassembled them into boldly original compositions. In recognition of these groundbreaking achievements, Gilliam became the first Black artist to represent the United States at the Venice Biennale in 1972.
The exhibition was organized by Landau Traveling Exhibitions, Los Angeles, CA in association with Griots Gallery at The Center for Haitian Studies, Miami, FL.
