April 4

Like Alma Thomas, Gilliam remained dedicated to abstract expression at a time when many other African American artists promoted explicit social commentary in their work. April 4--whose title references the day in 1968 when Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated -- is a rare instance in which he openly invites connections with topical issues. From the window of his Johnson Avenue studio, the artist had witnessed the devastating looting and fires that broke out along 14th Street in Washington, DC, upon news of King's death. A year later, when he made this painting, much of the damage remained unrepaired. The dark stains in the canvas could suggest the violence of the assassination and its traumatic aftermath. At the same time, its luminous, majestic color honors King and his work, implying a sense of hope.