Born in San Mateo, California, Sam Francis was an influential American abstract expressionist painter and printmaker who’s artistic career spanned several decades, during which he achieved international recognition for his vibrant and expressive artworks. Francis initially studied botany, medicine, and psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, before being drafted into the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. It was during his hospitalization for a wartime injury that he first took up painting as a form of therapy. This experience sparked his passion for art, leading him to pursue formal training in painting, ultimately achieving a BA and an MA from the University of California where he studied under Davis Park.
Francis quickly gained recognition for his bold and colorful paintings characterized by their luminous hues, fluid brushwork, and expansive compositions. He became associated with the second generation of abstract expressionism, often referred to as the "post-painterly abstraction" movement. Throughout his career, Francis experimented with various techniques and media. He was known for his expertise in printmaking, particularly lithography and monotype, which allowed him to explore different textures and mark-making possibilities. His print works showcased the same vibrancy and fluidity as his paintings.
Sam Francis' work can be found in major museum collections worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Tate Modern in London, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. His contributions to abstract expressionism and his innovative use of color and space have left a lasting impact on the art world. Today, he is regarded as one of the leading figures of post-war American abstraction, celebrated for his unique visual language and his ability to evoke profound emotions through his art.
Sam Francis was a renowned abstract expressionist painter known for his vibrant and colorful artworks. While he primarily worked with paint on canvas, he also explored various drawing techniques, including the use of ink.
Particularly attracted to the qualities and effects of ink on paper, Francis created dynamic and expressive compositions of spontaneous gesture, capturing movement and energy, and allowing the medium to flow freely to interact with the paper's surface. One notable aspect of Francis' ink drawings is his exploration of space and the interplay between positive and negative areas. In this Untitled work (SF72-1025) from the early 1970s, Francis has intentionally squared the composition creating a framework which, ultimately, fails to contain the free-flowing diagonals and splatters that run up to, and off, the edges of the paper. In other works Francis would employ a technique called "controlled accidents," where he would pour or splatter ink directly onto the paper and then manipulate it using varying brushes or other tools. This process allowed him to create organic shapes that emerged from spontaneous movement.
Artist to private collection until 2022
LAMA Auction, Los Angeles, CA June 2022
This work is listed with the Sam Francis Foundation