Sam Francis: Master of Color and Light

Sam Francis, the American painter and printmaker, is celebrated for his vibrant use of color and expansive, luminous canvases. Widely regarded as one of the leading interpreters of color and light in modern art, Francis left an indelible mark on Abstract Expressionism.

Born Samuel Lewis Francis on June 25, 1923, in San Mateo, California, he was deeply influenced by the light and atmosphere of the California coast. His family often visited Santa Monica, California, where he developed a lasting affinity for the area’s mild climate and vivid coastal light—an influence that would remain central to his work.

During World War II, Francis served in the U.S. Air Force. In 1944, he was diagnosed with spinal tuberculosis and spent several years recovering in a hospital. It was during this period that he began painting, encouraged by a visit from artist David Park. Upon his recovery, he resumed his studies at University of California Berkeley, this time focusing on art.

The 1950s saw Francis living in Paris, where his work attracted the attention of critics like Claude Duthuit, the son-in-law of Henri Matisse. His international breakthrough came in 1956, when his painting “Big Red” was featured in the Museum of Modern Art’s exhibition “Twelve Artists” in New York.

Though he painted in cities across the globe—Paris, Tokyo, Mexico City, Bern, Switzerland, and New York—Francis kept a residence in Santa Monica on West Channel Road. The space, once a garage for Charlie Chaplin’s fire engine collection, became a personal and creative sanctuary.