46 1/2 x 65 1/2 inches. Collection of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. Gift of Don and Nancy Eiler. © 2026 Estate of Paul Reed
About
Extended Play explores the emergence, evolution, and expansion of postwar American abstraction through artists connected to the Washington Color School and the groundbreaking work of Sam Gilliam. Inspired by the language of music—especially jazz—the exhibition considers how artists used rhythm, variation, and improvisation to shape new approaches to color, form, and movement. Featuring works by Morris Louis, Kenneth Noland, Alma Thomas, and Sam Gilliam, the exhibition traces how painters moved beyond the emotional intensity of Abstract Expressionism toward bold color and carefully structured compositions. It also follows Gilliam’s transformation of painting into a dynamic, sculptural practice as he removed canvases from their stretchers and allowed them to drape and respond to gravity
Support
This exhibition is made possible through extraordinary assistance from the Sam Gilliam Foundation, Gagosian Gallery, Pace Gallery, and David Kordansky Gallery.