Icon 

Sam Gilliam created this intriguing abstract piece, "Icon," with acrylic on canvas. The composition is immediately striking for its structured yet fluid elements: blocks of color and texture that demand attention. On the left, we see an almost fragmented field of blues and greens, their forms disrupted by a stark, vertical beige panel. To the right, a dominant pillar of red paint cascades down the canvas, seemingly unbound. The juxtaposition of these forms creates a sense of tension and release. Gilliam's use of poured paint in this piece is significant. It disrupts traditional notions of painting, challenging the artist's control and embracing chance. This approach aligns with post-structuralist ideas about deconstructing fixed meanings, suggesting that the artwork's interpretation is not fixed but fluid. "Icon’s" formal qualities invite us to consider how art can challenge conventional structures, embracing a dynamic interplay between order and chaos, control and chance, ultimately destabilizing our expectations of what a painting can be.