Book excerpt: “A fresh, intelligent, and insightful assessment of Sam Gilliam's lifetime achievements as an artist. Binstock accomplishes this through his penetrating critical examination of Gilliam's artistic development, innovations, and the complexities of his contribution both as an abstract and African-American artist.”—Valerie J. Mercer, author of Explorations in the 'City of Light' "Sam Gilliam: A Retrospective, which gives focus and definition to an artist critical to our understanding of how contemporary painting has evolved in this country, is a highly welcome publication."—Leslie King-Hammond, Dean of Graduate Studies, Maryland Institute College of Art "Sam Gilliam: A Retrospective is a thorough and serious assessment of a magisterial career. Meticulously examining Gilliam's ideas, aesthetics, influences, artistic process, and impact on other artists, it illuminates his brilliance and the important role played by his work in the recent history of American painting."—Maurice Berger, Fellow, The Vera List Center for Art & Politics, The New School "Finally a comprehensive study of one of our most significant artists! Jonathan Binstock's erudite account of Sam Gilliam's innovations in the world of art fills a considerable void in our understanding of painterly abstraction. The art works themselves-cerebral, sentient, and fascinating-consummate the inquiry and make this book a visual delight."—Richard J. Powell, John Spencer Bassett Professor of Art and Art History, Duke University "Binstock's writings on Sam Gilliam's art over the past four decades have placed the artist in the forefront of contemporary American art. In this new book, he recounts Gilliam's rise to an artist of international prominence and offers a concise history of contemporary art in Washington. A must read."—David D. Driskell, author of Two Centuries of Black American Art "This comprehensive text celebrates one of America's hidden national treasures. Gilliam's steadfast and unswerving commitment as an artist shines through his works, as in this account of them by Jonathan Binstock. What emerges here is a full-on profile of an artist and a black American."—Lowery Stokes Sims, President, The Studio Museum in Harlem