First Solo Sam Gilliam Exhibition In Ireland Opens At Irish Museum Of Modern Art June 2025
This summer, the first solo exhibition of pioneering abstract artist Sam Gilliam (b. 1933 – d. 2022) mounted in Ireland opens at the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA). Incorporating beveled-edge and drape paintings alongside rarely seen fabric and collage works inspired by his residency at Ballinglen Arts Foundation in the 1990s, the solo exhibition Sam Gilliam: Sewing Fields showcases an underexplored period in Gilliam’s career that demonstrates his exceptional mastery of color, form, and material. Through his Irish residency, Gilliam advanced his innovative exploration of sewn and collaged works, adding this experimental series to his extensive oeuvre. Co-organized by the Sam Gilliam Foundation and IMMA, Sam Gilliam: Sewing Fields is on view June 13, 2025, to January 25, 2026.
Gilliam traveled to Ireland intending to expand upon his exploration of different mediums. Working with a local seamstress, he experimented with sewn and collaged works, continuing his lifelong study of form and color. The ensuing period, and his return to thoughts of Ireland near the end of his life, formed the impetus for this exhibition of rarely seen works, showcasing further how Gilliam blurred the boundaries between painting and sculpture.
One of the great innovators in post-war American painting, Gilliam’s work in Ireland fostered an intuitive dialogue with the surrounding environment, featuring loose, flowing compositions that reflect the organic, unpredictable nature of the land and sea, and was influenced by the unique Irish light, resulting in atmospheric, translucent hues. Some of the final works Gilliam created in the later years of his life included references to the coastal landmarks and location of this residency, demonstrating the lasting impact of his time there, including Downpatrick head (2022) and Irish, County Mayo (2022), both featured in this exhibition.
“Sam’s work exemplified a commitment to pushing the boundaries of artmaking, responding to his environment and transforming his medium within its context. His time in Ireland was a pivotal moment in his career, serving as a recurring source of inspiration. Our collaboration with IMMA celebrates his enduring connection to Ireland and the ways it influenced the experimental works he created during his time there,” said Annie Gawlak, president of the Sam Gilliam Foundation.
“Sam Gilliam transformed painting practice through his experimentation, draping canvases and creating semi-sculptural objects. The dynamism of his works can be seen in the exhibited pieces at IMMA that he created while on residency in Ballinglen Arts Foundation in the early 90’s. We are very honoured to have worked with the Foundation and his wife Annie Gawlak in bringing this exhibition to IMMA and showing this body of work for the first time,” said Mary Cremin, Head of Programming at IMMA.
IMMA will publish a fully illustrated monograph on Sam Gilliam to accompany the exhibition. The publication features contributions by Dr John Beardsley, renowned curator and art historian, and Thelma Golden, Director and Chief Curator of The Studio Museum in Harlem, alongside introductions by the exhibition curators Seán Kissane, Curator, IMMA and Mary Cremin, Head of Programming, IMMA. The publication offers fresh insights into Gilliam’s radical approach to abstraction and his Ireland-inspired works. Programs that will also accompany the exhibition include curator talks, gallery tours and workshops.
About the Sam Gilliam Foundation
Established in 2023, the Sam Gilliam Foundation advances the vision and values of abstract artist Sam Gilliam by organizing and supporting significant exhibitions of the artist’s work, fostering new research and publications, and collaborating with arts organizations and institutions on initiatives that extend Gilliam’s generosity and enthusiasm for supporting emerging and longtime artists, art students, scholars, curators, and the cultural ecosystem at large. Helmed by Annie Gawlak, the Foundation serves as a primary resource on the artist and a steward of his collection and archive, with important holdings of Gilliam’s work in a variety of mediums and original papers and materials pertaining to his life and work. Since its activation, the Foundation has expanded its mission to champion the work of rising artists by establishing the Sam Gilliam Award in partnership with Dia Art Foundation, and to continue Gilliam’s legacy by launching the Gilliam Visiting Artist Program in collaboration with the Speed Art Museum and the Sam Gilliam Lecture series in collaboration with John Hopkins University.
About the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA)
IMMA is Ireland’s National Cultural Institution for Modern and Contemporary Art. Its mission is to connect audiences and art, providing an extraordinary space in Ireland where contemporary life and contemporary art connect, challenge and inspire one another. Its diverse and ambitious program comprises of exhibitions, commissions and projects by leading Irish and international artists, as well as a rich engagement and learning program which together provide audiences of all ages the opportunity to connect with contemporary art and unlock their creativity.
Situated in the iconic Dublin landmark of the 17th century Royal Hospital Kilmainham, IMMA is home to the National Collection of Modern and Contemporary Art, started in 1991 and now numbering over 4,000 artworks by Irish and international artists. IMMA makes this national resource available through exhibitions at the museum and other venues nationally and internationally, and through engagement and learning programs and digital resources. imma.ie