Sam Francis (1923–1994) was an American abstract painter and printmaker celebrated for his vivid use of color, light, and expansive compositions. Born in San Mateo, California, he began painting while recovering from a serious illness during his service as a World War II pilot, later earning BA and MA degrees in art from the University of California, Berkeley. In the early 1950s he moved to Paris, where exposure to French modernism and Monet’s late paintings, along with time spent in Tokyo, Mexico City, and Europe, helped shape a lyrical, gestural style that bridged Abstract Expressionism, color field painting, and Asian aesthetics.
By the mid-1950s Francis had gained international acclaim, becoming known as one of the first postwar American painters to develop a truly global career, with large-scale murals and exhibitions across Europe, the United States, and Japan. Over four decades he produced thousands of paintings, works on paper, and prints characterized by floating pools of saturated color punctuated by expanses of white, evoking both cosmic space and inner psychological landscapes. In addition to his studio practice, Francis founded The Lapis Press and supported cultural and educational initiatives, securing his legacy as a central figure in postwar abstraction.