(Denver, Colorado, 1947 - )
1980
Oil on canvas
84 x 66 in. (213.4 x 167.6 cm)
Collection of the Akron Art Museum
Gift of Daniel Weingarten
1984.7
Ed Gilliam gave a humble description of his early life as an artist: “Because I knew very little, I could learn a lot.” He eagerly traveled from Denver to California, Europe, Asia, and Mexico (where he spent the last years of his life), taking in new lessons on modern art at each stop. In this 1980 painting, Gilliam’s vibrant palette and spirited brushwork demonstrate that he was also quick to absorb the exciting possibilities sweeping into fashion, design, and art as the decade began. The picture’s layered triangles, arcs, and zigzags show the energy that he put into his work as they dance across the canvas with almost musical rhythm.