Sam Francis
1923-1994 · American · Abstract Expressionism, Tachisme, Color Field, Lyrical Abstraction
Auction record: $13.56M
Composition in Blue and Black, 1955 · Christie's, New York · Nov 9, 2022
Source: masterworks.com
Biography
Sam Francis (1923 to 1994) was a Californian painter who began painting while recovering from a wartime injury and moved to Paris in 1950, where his luminous fields of color made him one of the few Americans celebrated on both sides of the Atlantic. His work links second generation Abstract Expressionism with Tachisme and Color Field painting, and his later open compositions, built around large areas of white canvas, influenced painters in Europe and Japan. For the market he offers a broad price ladder: large canvases from the 1950s rank among the most sought after postwar American abstractions, while a deep supply of works on paper and prints trades regularly at auction. In November 2022 a Paris period canvas set his record at Christie's New York.
Recent auction results
| Untitled (1977)Sotheby's, New York | $109K | May 15, 2026 | heni.com |
|---|---|---|---|
| Untitled (1958)Christie's, New York | $216K | Nov 20, 2025 | heni.com |
| Untitled (1989)Sotheby's, New York | $241K | May 16, 2025 | heni.com |
Market
- Liquidity: Medium
Museums
- Museum of Modern Art, New York
- Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
- San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
- Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena
- Kunstmuseum Basel
Sources
- Masterworks, Sam Francis
- Wikipedia, Sam Francis
- HENI News, Sotheby's 16 maggio 2025
- HENI News, Christie's 20 novembre 2025
- HENI News, Sotheby's 15 maggio 2026
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