Sam Francis (1923-1994) was a prominent American painter known for his vibrant and expressive abstract works. Born in San Mateo, California, he initially pursued a career in the Air Force before a spinal injury during World War II led him to discover painting as a form of rehabilitation. This shift marked the beginning of his illustrious career in the art world.
Francis’s work is characterized by its bold use of color and dynamic compositions, often featuring expansive white spaces juxtaposed with splashes and drips of vivid hues. Influenced by Abstract Expressionism, he developed a unique style that also drew from his experiences in Japan and France, where he was exposed to Eastern aesthetics and European avant-garde movements. He went through various artistic phases in his 50-year career in which he gradually kept reinventing and testing the limits of his own unique style.
Throughout his career, Francis exhibited internationally, and his work became highly sought after. His pieces are part of major collections in museums such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Tate Gallery in London.
In addition to his paintings, Francis explored printmaking, sculpture, and murals, demonstrating his versatility and relentless creativity. His work continues to inspire and influence contemporary artists, cementing his legacy as a key figure in 20th-century abstract art.
Nico met Sam Francis through Walasse Ting, who was a good friend of the American Abstract-Expressionist. Nico first saw Sam Francis paintings from the 1960s hanging in Ting’s studio and immediately took a great liking to Francis’ unique mastering of space and color. Nico bought five pieces off Ting and later set an appointment to meet him in person. This appointment was in 1989 in Sam’s enormous studio in Venice, California.
From this moment on until his death Nico would visit Sam in different studio’s, they would talk and eat good Japanese food and Nico would buy and sell his work. Sam Francis enjoyed how Nico particularly appreciated the pieces he was making at that time at the end of his life. In this way Nico formed a professional relationship but also a true friendship with this titan of Post-War art and has dedicated himself to the representation of his legacy and of the Sam Francis Foundation ever since, both as a dealer and an avid collector himself. Nico named his son, born in 2002, after Sam as a tribute to their unique friendship.
