1991
Sam Francis was an American artist known for his exuberantly colorful, large-scale abstract paintings. His practice incorporated elements from Abstract Expressionism, Color Field painting, Impressionism and Eastern philosophy to create a unique style of painterly abstraction.
Influenced by Jackson Pollock and Clyfford Still, Francis is more closely associated to the work of Helen Frankenthaler, as he was more interested in the formal arrangement of the picture plane than the expressivity of the individual artist. “Painting is about the beauty of space and the power of containment,” Francis once reflected.
Born on June 25, 1923 in San Mateo, California, Francis briefly served in the US Air Force during World War II but was injured during a test flight. Returning to California, he received his BA and MA from UC Berkeley in botany and psychology before beginning to pursue a career in art. The artist traveled widely during his career, and he was closely aligned with the Art Informel movement while living abroad in Paris during the 1950s.
Francis died on November 4, 1994 in Santa Monica, California, at the age of 71. He was a founding trustee of Los Angeles’s Museum of Contemporary Art, and his paintings can be found in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Kunstmuseum Basel, and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, among others.
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Trietto III
By Sam Francis
Located in London, GB
SAM FRANCIS 1923-1994 San Mateo, California 1923 – 1994 Santa Monica (American) Title: Trietto III, 1991 Technique: Original Hand Signed and Numbered Etching and Aquatint in Colour...
Etching, Aquatint
Trietto 4 (SFE-077 RC)
By Sam Francis
Located in London, GB
Aquatint in colours, 1991, on Fabriano paper, signed in pencil, one of 14 Artist’s Proofs in Roman Numerals, aside from the standard edition of 66, printed by Valter & Eleonora R...
Aquatint
Untitled
By Sam Francis
Located in New York, NY
Dynamic and bold color lithograph on Rives BFK. One of 20 numbered Hors Commerce impressions, aside from the edition of 176. This stunning print is signed and inscribed "H.C. 10/20" ...
Color, Lithograph
Trietto 3 (SFE-076 RC)
By Sam Francis
Located in London, GB
Aquatint in colours, 1991, on Fabriano paper, signed in pencil, numbered from the edition of 66, printed by Valter & Eleonora Rossi at Vigna Antoniniana Stamperia d'Arte, Rome, publi...
Aquatint
Untitled
By Sam Francis
Located in London, GB
Sam Francis Untitled 1968 Lithograph, Edition of 3, experimental proof 66 x 47 cms (26 x 18 1/2 ins) SF15155
Lithograph
Untitled (SF-346)
By Sam Francis
Located in New York, NY
A very good impression of this color lithograph on Waterleaf white wove paper. One of 25 Roman numeral impressions, aside from the Arabic numeral edition of 100. Signed and numbered ...
Color, Lithograph
Untitled
By Sam Francis
Located in London, GB
67.3 x 88.9 cms (26.5 x 35 ins) Edition of 50 Signed lower right, numbered lower left. Published by Nantenshi Gallery, Tokyo. Printed by Harumi Sonoyama at Gendai hanga Kobo Co...
Color, Lithograph
Framed
By Sam Francis
Located in Missouri, MO
Framed Sam Francis (American, 1923-1994) Edition 58/100 in pencil Lower Left Signed in pencil Lower Right 17 x 22 inches 25.5 x 30.5 inches An Abstract Expressionist* painter known ...
Color, Lithograph
Untitled
By Sam Francis
Located in London, GB
67.3 x 49.5 cms (26 1/2 x 19 1/2 ins) Edition of 7
Color, Lithograph
Untitled, 1994 (SFP94-36)
By Sam Francis
Located in Greenwich, CT
Untitled, 1994 (SFP94-36) is an acrylic painting on canvas, from Francis' 'Last Works' collection. The canvas is 18 x 22 inches and stamped verso with the Sam Francis estate stamp. F...
Canvas, Acrylic
