Sam Francis

Sam Francis was a U.S. artist (California, United States, 1923–California, United States, 1994), associated with Abstract Expressionism and Color Field painting. He began to paint while recovering from an injury suffered during his service in the United States Army Air Forces, and later studied art at the University of California, Berkeley.

His work is known for its intense use of color, wide areas of white, and strong sensitivity to light and space. Through stains, washes, drips, and open compositions, Francis developed a lyrical and gestural abstraction, influenced by his stays in Paris, Japan, and Mexico, as well as by his interest in European painting, Asian art, and the physical experience of color.

His work is part of collections such as MoMA, SFMOMA, Centre Pompidou, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. He has presented exhibitions in institutions such as Centre Pompidou, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, The Menil Collection, Museo Reina Sofía, and Milwaukee Art Museum.