Sam Francis

American, 1923-1994

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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Average Sold Price

$4,015

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Materials

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Sam FrancisSam Francis - Deluxe Hand Signed & Numbered 25/30 - Carnegie Museum lithograph, 1972

$6,000Sale Price|20% Off

H 15 in W 22 in

Sam Francis - Deluxe Hand Signed & Numbered 25/30 - Carnegie Museum lithograph

By Sam Francis

Located in New York, NY

Sam Francis Untitled Abstract Expressionist lithograph (Hand Signed from the Carnegie Museum Deluxe Edition), 1972 Catalogue Raisonné: 155, Lembark Hand signed and numbered 25/30 on...

Category

1970s Abstract Expressionist Sam Francis

Materials

Lithograph

Sam FrancisCirca 1950 Original lithograph of Sam Francis - Abstract - Signed by the artist, Circa 1950

$3,416

H 28.35 in W 22.05 in

Circa 1950 Original lithograph of Sam Francis - Abstract - Signed by the artist

By Sam Francis

Located in PARIS, FR

Very nice original lithograph of Sam Francis. Samuel Lewis Francis (1923-1994) known as Sam Francis, is an American painter, famous for his non-figurative painting. He developed in...

Category

1950s Sam Francis

Materials

Paper, Lithograph

Sam FrancisSam Francis Abstract Lithograph, Unsigned, 1964, Pink Venus Kiki, from 1¢ Life, 1964

$1,195

H 20.625 in W 28.75 in

Sam Francis Abstract Lithograph, Unsigned, 1964, Pink Venus Kiki, from 1¢ Life

By Sam Francis

Located in Washington, DC

Artist: Sam Francis Title: Pink Venus Kiki Portfolio: 1¢ Life Medium: Lithograph Year: 1964 Edition Size: 2000 Frame Size: 20 5/8" x 28 3/4" Sheet Size: 16 1/8" x 22 1/4" Signature: ...

Category

1960s Abstract Sam Francis

Materials

Lithograph

Sam FrancisUntitled (SF-351), Abstract Expressionist Lithograph by Sam Francis, 1992

$7,500

H 30 in W 22 in

Untitled (SF-351), Abstract Expressionist Lithograph by Sam Francis

By Sam Francis

Located in Long Island City, NY

Sam Francis, American (1923 - 1994) - Untitled (SF-351), Portfolio: Papierski Portfolio, Year: 1992, Medium: Lithograph on BFK Rives, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: 50...

Category

1990s Abstract Expressionist Sam Francis

Materials

Lithograph

Sam FrancisUntitled (Sf-263) - Lithograph by Sam Francis - 1963, 1963

$7,744

H 42.13 in W 29.73 in D 0.04 in

Untitled (Sf-263) - Lithograph by Sam Francis - 1963

By Sam Francis

Located in Roma, IT

Lithograph on BFK Rives-Velin, realized in 1981. Hand signed in pencil. One of 4 CTP Proofs, preceding the edition of 24. Printed by Georges Page at Litho Shop, Santa Monica. Blin...

Category

1960s Abstract Sam Francis

Materials

Lithograph

Sam FrancisUntitled (SF-329), 1988

$7,500

H 45 in W 28 in

Untitled (SF-329)

By Sam Francis

Located in Calabasas, CA

Artist: Sam Francis Title: Untitled (SF-329) Year: 1988 Medium: Lithograph on PTI #120 Waterleaf paper; deckled edges Edition: 50; signed and numbered in pencil Sheet: 45 x 28 inches...

Category

1990s Abstract Sam Francis

Materials

Lithograph

Sam FrancisSwatch : Color Explosion - Original lithograph (Mourlot, 1992), 1992

$341

H 34.06 in W 11.62 in

Swatch : Color Explosion - Original lithograph (Mourlot, 1992)

By Sam Francis

Located in Paris, IDF

Sam FRANCIS Color explosion, 1992 Original lithograph Unsigned On Arches vellum 86.5 x 29.5 cm Numbered on the back Authenticated by Moulot blind stamp INFORMATION : Edited by Gale...

Category

1990s American Modern Sam Francis

Materials

Lithograph

Sam FrancisUntitled, 1994 (SFP94-36), 1994

$168,500

H 28.25 in W 24.25 in

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...

Category

20th Century Abstract Expressionist Sam Francis

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

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Sam Francis Sale Prices

Sold Date

Sold Price

Category

Medium

Creation Year

2026	$1,403	Abstract Prints	Lithograph	1971
2026	$7,563	Figurative Prints	Lithograph	1973
2026	$2,501	More Prints, Abstract Prints	Color Print, Lithograph	1986
2026	$5,750	More Prints, Abstract Prints	Color Print, Lithograph	1987
2026	$600	Abstract Prints	Lithograph, Offset Print	1972
2026	$1,000	Abstract Prints	Lithograph	1964
2026	$15,000	More Prints, Abstract Prints	Lithograph	1963
2026	$1,500	More Prints, Abstract Prints	Color Print, Lithograph	1968
2026	$10,500	Abstract Prints	Lithograph	1988
2026	$1,700	Abstract Prints	Lithograph
2026	$125	Prints and Multiples	Screen Print	2002
2026	$6,500	Figurative Prints	Lithograph	1969
2025	$150	Prints and Multiples	Screen Print	2002
2025	$120	Prints and Multiples	Screen Print	2002
2025	$1,500	Abstract Prints, More Prints	Offset Print, Lithograph	1972
2025	$10,000	Abstract Prints	Lithograph	1972
2025	$1,000	Abstract Prints	Lithograph	1964

$4,015

Average sold price of items in the past 12 months

$120-$15,000

Sold price range of items in the past 12 months

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Sam Francis art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Sam Francis art available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of art to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of blue, purple, orange and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Sam Francis in lithograph, etching, aquatint and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the abstract style. Not every interior allows for large Sam Francis art, so small editions measuring 6 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Robert Motherwell, Paul Jenkins, and Theodoros Stamos. Sam Francis art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $70 and tops out at $950,000, while the average work can sell for $8,000.

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