Sam Francis was a prominent American painter whose work spans from abstract expressionism to color field painting. Born in San Mateo, California, in 1923, Francis had his first solo show in 1952. He was deeply influenced by the likes of Mark Rothko, Arshile Gorky, and Clyfford Still, but also by East Asian art, which he first encountered during his military service in Japan.
Francis is known for his bright, vibrant compositions, often featuring large swaths of color and sinuous, calligraphic lines. His paintings, whether small or large, are dynamic, energetic, and full of life. They invite the viewer to engage with their colors, forms, and textures, and to explore the relationships between them.
One of Francis’s most significant contributions to the art world was his development of the “open” composition, in which the painting extends beyond the edges of the canvas. By doing so, Francis created a sense of boundlessness, of the infinite, that speaks to the universal nature of art and humanity.
Francis’s work has been exhibited widely in the United States and abroad, and is represented in many major museum collections, including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Guggenheim Museum in New York, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum.
Although Francis passed away in 1994, his legacy lives on. His paintings continue to inspire and delight viewers, and his influence can be seen in the work of many contemporary artists. Whether you are a longtime fan or discovering Francis’s art for the first time, there is much to appreciate and celebrate in his remarkable body of work.