Perennials Translates the Work of Artist Sam Glankoff Into New Rugs

At age 87, commercial artist Sam Glankoff was persuaded by a friend, Wendy Snyder, to exhibit his fine art at a gallery. The resulting show was a success, garnering a positive review from the New York Times, but there was no sequel—the reclusive talent died a few months later.

As director and archivist of Glankoff’s estate, in charge of his wide-ranging portfolio of abstract collages, luminous mono-murals, and expressionist woodcuts, Snyder has now joined forces with Perennials to translate his bold brushstrokes and layered surfaces into the Art of Glankoff collection of rugs. Among them, Visionary III’s cloudy ground contrasts with the strong abstractions of Visionary I and Focus I. The three Concentric patterns of course feature circles, whole or partial.

Each rug is hand-knotted, Tibetan-style, from the same solution-dyed acrylic that the company uses to make outdoor upholstery fabric. That means the rugs offer the look and feel of natural fibers yet resist sun, moisture, and stains.