Born in Tupelo, Mississippi Gilliam received a Masters in painting from the University of
Louisville in Kentucky. He revived his first grant from the NEA in 1967. Since the early 60’s
Gilliam has worked as an original and innovative color field painter. His work is a series of
informed improvisation with meaning woven into the structure of the works. Gilliam equally
accommodates freedom and order, and his work is painstakingly arranged to create a sense
of internal harmony.