Artist

Sam Francis was a prolific American painter and printmaker. He was primarily characterized as an abstract expressionist who focused heavily on expressive color. His artwork often represented events and themes from his personal life: what he was thinking, feeling, etc. Although originally he started work as a painter, he expanded his repertoire over time, delving heavily into printmaking later in his career. He was also influenced by the he spent among artists in France and Tokyo: specifically, he was affected by Asian Culture, Zen Buddhism, and also French modern painting. Francis was responsible for founding The Lapis Press. He is also credited with helping gain recognition for postwar American painting. His work is most popular in Europe and Japan.