Sam Francis
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Sam Francis #178Iconic

description Report
personAmerican, 1923–1994
palette

Selected Works1507

Museum Acquisitions

Whitney
Whitney
Whitney
Whitney
Whitney
Whitney
Whitney
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA

Previous Sales 266

Bonhams
Untitled (Wheel of Fortune) 30 x 21 7/8 in (76.2 x 55.6 cm) (dimensions interchangeable) (Executed in 1976)
Untitled (Wheel of Fortune) 30 x 21 7/8 in (76.2 x 55.6 cm) (dimensions interchangeable) (Executed in 1976)
$20,000
May 2026
Christie's
Untitled
Untitled, 1952
Bought In
May 2026
Sotheby's
Untitled
Untitled, 1989
Unknown
Apr 2026
Christie's
Sans titre
Sans titre, 1969
€48,260 ($53k USD)
Apr 2026
Christie's
Red, Yellow, Blue
Red, Yellow, Blue, 1957
£127,000 ($168k USD)
Mar 2026
Sotheby's
Dark Red Dream
Dark Red Dream, 1971
£154,012 ($154k USD)
Mar 2026
Sotheby's
White No. 1
White No. 1 , 1952
£769,056 ($769k USD)
Mar 2026
Christie's
Untitled
Untitled, 1977
$203,200
Feb 2026
Bonhams
Untitled (SF 73-299), 1973
Untitled (SF 73-299), 1973
$22,000
Feb 2026
Bonhams
Untitled (SF 76-177), 1976
Untitled (SF 76-177), 1976
$7,000
Feb 2026
Bonhams
Untitled (SF 79-103), 1979
Untitled (SF 79-103), 1979
$6,500
Feb 2026
Bonhams
Untitled (SF 79-014), 1979
Untitled (SF 79-014), 1979
Bought In
Feb 2026
Sotheby's
Untitled
Untitled, 1990
£20,000 ($26k USD)
Jan 2026
Christie's
Untitled
Untitled, 1953
$330,200
Nov 2025
Christie's
One Ocean, One Cup
One Ocean, One Cup, 1974
$254,000
Nov 2025
Christie's
Untitled (Blue Balls)
Untitled (Blue Balls)
$127,000
Nov 2025
Sotheby's
Untitled
Untitled, 1983
$406,400
Nov 2025
Christie's
Sans titre
Sans titre, 1988
€177,800 ($196k USD)
Oct 2025
Christie's
Deep Blue
Deep Blue, 1952
€952,500 ($1.0M USD)
Oct 2025
Christie's
Bridged White
Bridged White, 1959
$177,800
Sep 2025
Sotheby's
Untitled
Untitled, 1990
£8,500 ($14k USD)
Aug 2025
Sotheby's
Untitled
Untitled, 1991
£60,520 ($61k USD)
Jun 2025
Christie's
Composition
Composition, 1983
€81,900 ($90k USD)
Apr 2025
Christie's
Sans titre
Sans titre, 1986
€18,900 ($21k USD)
Apr 2025
Sotheby's
Untitled
Untitled, 1973
£12,000 ($16k USD)
Jan 2025

Upcoming Auctions 1

Christie's
Untitled
Untitled, 1983
Est. £150,000–£200,000
Jun 25, 2026

For Sale 49

Wallector Srl · Artsper
Untitled
Untitled
$6,240
Print
Jonathan Novak Contemporary Art · Artsy
Rainbow (Blue Red) (SF64-156)
Rainbow (Blue Red) (SF64-156), 1963
Price on request
Acrylic and gouache on paper
Galleri GKM · Artsper
SF 89-153
SF 89-153
$101,997
Painting
Wallector · 1stDibs
Tokyo Mon Amour - Lithograph by Sam Francis - 1963
Tokyo Mon Amour - Lithograph by Sam Francis - 1963
$11,639
Upsilon Gallery · Artsy
Untitled (SFE-029)
Untitled (SFE-029), 1983
For sale
Aquatint in colors, on Rives BFK paper
TGP Auction · Artsper
Untitled SF 351
Untitled SF 351
$4,680
Print
Wallector · 1stDibs
Untitled - Lithograph by Sam Francis - 1992
Untitled - Lithograph by Sam Francis - 1992
$15,440
Bernard Jacobson Gallery · Artsy
Untitled
Untitled, 1965
Price on request
Acrylic on paper
artkob · Artsper
SF-318
SF-318
$4,440
Print
Fern Hill Gallery · Artsper
Untitled (SFE-021)
Untitled (SFE-021)
$4,560
Print
Galleri GKM · Artsper
SFE-080RC
SFE-080RC
$10,200
Print
Galleri GKM AB · 1stDibs
SF 89-153.
SF 89-153.
$101,121
artkob · Artsper
Sans titre (SF-310)
Sans titre (SF-310)
$4,560
Print
DaMats Fine Art Collaborative · 1stDibs
Untitled
Untitled
$5,500
FRANK FLUEGEL GALERIE · Artsper
Untitled (SF-353, Papierski)
Untitled (SF-353, Papierski)
$7,800
Print
Alpha 137 Gallery · 1stDibs
Deluxe Hand Signed & Numbered 25/30 Cat: Lembark 155 Carnegie Museum lithograph
Deluxe Hand Signed & Numbered 25/30 Cat: Lembark 155 Carnegie Museum lithograph
$7,500
Kenneth A. Friedman & Co. · Artsy
Spleen (Yellow)
Spleen (Yellow), 1971
Price on request
Lithograph on Special Copperplate paper
Heather James Fine Art · 1stDibs
Untitled (Black and White Composition) - Abstract Acrylic Painting, 1988
Untitled (Black and White Composition) - Abstract Acrylic Painting, 1988
$30,000
Gutan Fine Art · 1stDibs
Sam Francis - Mehrfarbige Spirale - Hand-Signed Etching and Aquatint, 1970
Sam Francis - Mehrfarbige Spirale - Hand-Signed Etching and Aquatint, 1970
$8,908
Masterworks Fine Art · 1stDibs
Untitled, from the Pasadena Box, 1964
Untitled, from the Pasadena Box, 1964
$12,000
Martin Lawrence Galleries · 1stDibs
Untitled, 1994 (SFP94-36)
Untitled, 1994 (SFP94-36)
$168,500
Masterworks Fine Art · 1stDibs
People's Jade, 1971
People's Jade, 1971
$10,000
Bernard Jacobson Gallery · 1stDibs
An Other Set (Y) – From the Pasadena Box
An Other Set (Y) – From the Pasadena Box
$4,000
Gilden's Art Gallery · 1stDibs
Untitled (SFE-081) - 1992 - American Abstract Expressionism
Untitled (SFE-081) - 1992 - American Abstract Expressionism
$10,500
Bernard Jacobson Gallery · 1stDibs
Untitled
Untitled
$14,000
price_check

Market6,812 auction results

trending_upPaintings Range
$884 – $14M
536 of 649 paintings lots with prices
calculatePaintings Average
$313K
Object-type specific
show_chartPaintings Median
$46.0K
536 priced paintings lots
calendar_todayLast Paintings Sale
Jun 2026 · $17.7K
Latest tracked sale in this object type
categoryMarket by Object Type
Paintings: $46.0K medianWorks on paper: $35.7K medianSculpture/objects: $8.3K medianPhotographs: $4.8K medianEditioned prints: $3.1K medianPosters/ephemera: $2.6K medianBooks/portfolios: $2.0K medianUnclassified lots: $2.1K median
gavelTop Auction Houses
PhillipsChristie'sBonhamsSotheby'sArtcurial
school

Education3

San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI)
San Francisco, CA, USA
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA, USA
University of California, Davis
Davis, CA, USA
menu_book

Publications1

Exhibition Catalog 1

Action Painting
Hatje Cantz · 2008
gallery_thumbnail

Current Exhibitions0

No current exhibitions found.

newspaper

Recent News18

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Pasadena Gallery Opens Exhibition Tracing City’s Role in L.A. Art History
A new exhibition titled "Pasadena: L.A.'s Art Legacy" opens at Jack Rutberg Fine Arts in Pasadena, featuring 70 works by nearly 60 artists. The show h…
exhibitionsJun 7, 2026
Pasadena’s Hidden Art Legacy Gets Its Long-Overdue Spotlight at Jack Rutberg Fine Arts
Jack Rutberg Fine Arts in Pasadena presents "Pasadena: L.A.'s Art Legacy," an exhibition opening June 7 and running through August 29. Featuring nearl…
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The Works, Trends, and Artists Artnet Specialists Can’t Stop Thinking About
Artnet Auctions has three sales currently live: Post-War and Contemporary Art (through May 20), Contemporary Editions (through May 29), and Private Sa…
marketMay 15, 2026
Post-War & Contemporary Art
Freeman's auction house is presenting a 'Post-War & Contemporary Art' sale featuring 83 lots that span eight decades of art history. The auction inclu…
marketMay 4, 2026
Dallas Art Fair brings Texas's relationship-driven collecting community into focus
The Dallas Art Fair has returned for its 2026 edition, signaling a period of stability with approximately 90 exhibitors and a higher retention rate th…
marketApr 17, 2026
Post War & Contemporary Art
Rago / Wright has announced its upcoming Post War & Contemporary Art auction scheduled for March 18, 2026, in Lambertville, New Jersey. The sale featu…
marketMar 18, 2026
scarcity rarity artnet 20th century art auction
Artnet Auctions has launched its "20th Century Art" sale, featuring works by blue-chip masters including Joan Miró, Yves Klein, and Andy Warhol. The a…
marketMar 12, 2026
Rago and Wright: Post War & Contemporary Art
Artsy is hosting a live auction titled 'Rago and Wright: Post War & Contemporary Art,' which closed on January 28, 2026. The sale features 78 lots of …
marketJan 28, 2026
new money new taste intel report march 2025
The article, part of Artnet's Intelligence Report, profiles the rise of a new generation of art collectors, exemplified by Justine Freeman, granddaugh…
marketDec 5, 2025
Christie's Paris Art Week - Christie's
Christie's will hold a series of modern and contemporary art auctions and events in Paris during late October 2025, coinciding with the fourth edition…
marketOct 2, 2025
Remembering John Sailer, the gallerist and champion of Austrian art, who has died, aged 87
John Sailer, the founder of Vienna's Galerie Ulysses and a key champion of Austrian avant-garde art, has died at age 87. Sailer opened the gallery in …
obituaryJul 7, 2025
white house art obamas
Barack and Michelle Obama have added several modern and contemporary artworks to the White House collection during their final year in residence. New …
newsJun 10, 2025
Chelsea Exhibition Reviews: Rosebud Contemporary, Paula Cooper, Fredericks & Freiser, Berry Campbell and more
This article reviews several Chelsea gallery exhibitions, focusing on Mary Ann Unger's monumental sculpture show 'Across the Bering Strait' at Berry C…
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5 highlight artnet auctions
Artnet Auctions has launched its latest Post-War and Contemporary Art sale, featuring works by Damien Hirst, Donald Judd, Francis Alÿs, Fernando Boter…
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Korea’s first privately owned Van Gogh unveiled at newly opened museum
Hong Gyu Shin, a New York-based gallery owner originally from Ulsan, South Korea, became the first named Korean to purchase a Van Gogh when he acquire…
exhibitionsMay 9, 2025
New York’s Hotel Chelsea honors the late artist Teruko Yokoi with new restaurant
New York's Hotel Chelsea is opening a Japanese restaurant named Teruko, inspired by and honoring the late artist Teruko Yokoi, who lived at the hotel …
exhibitionsMay 7, 2025
collector reinhard ernst on championing the legacy of helen frankenthaler
German collector Reinhard Ernst, 79, opened Museum Reinhard Ernst in Wiesbaden last year to house his collection of nearly 1,000 abstract works. The m…
peopleMay 2, 2025
6 Under-the-Radar Art Shows to See in New York Right Now—and 3 to Look Forward To
The article highlights six under-the-radar art shows currently on view in New York, including Lotus L. Kang's solo presentation "Already" at 52 Walker…
exhibitionsApr 29, 2025
history

Past Exhibitions28

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#11,996 Galerie Alexis Lartigue

TEFAF MAASTRICHT 2026 Solo Show: Sam Francis

Sam Francis

32 avenue Matignon

Mar 14, 2026 — Mar 19, 2026

Details

#696 Hollis Taggart

Where Color Begins Works on Paper by Sam Francis

Sam Francis

521 W 26th St, New York, NY 10001, United States

Jun 18, 2025 — Jul 18, 2025

Details

Jonathan Novak Contemporary Art

SAM FRANCIS – SPECIAL PROOFS

SAM FRANCIS

1880 Century Pk E # 100, Los Angeles, CA 90067, United States

Sep 27, 2023 — Oct 27, 2023

Details

#508 Galerie A&R Fleury

Sam Francis, « In Lovely Blueness »

Sam Francis

36 Avenue Matignon

Sep 12, 2023 — Nov 7, 2023

Details

#715 Bernard Jacobson Gallery

Sam Francis

Sam Francis

Feb 2, 2023 — Mar 25, 2023

Details

#1,441 Shapero Modern

The Prints of Sam Francis

Sam Francis

Sep 26, 2022 — Nov 5, 2022

Details

#1,125 David Benrimon Fine Art

Sam Francis: Abstract Impressionist

Sam Francis

41 E 57th St 2nd floor, New York, NY 10022, USA

Mar 1, 2020 — Apr 26, 2020

Details

#188 The Lapis Press

Sam Francis Sam Francis: Black & White & Abstract

8563 Higuera St, Culver City, CA 90232, USA

May 22, 2019 — Jul 1, 2019

Details

Jonathan Novak Contemporary Art

SAM FRANCIS: THE ’70s

SAM FRANCIS

1880 Century Pk E # 100, Los Angeles, CA 90067, United States

Feb 15, 2019 — May 16, 2019

Details

#6,111 Galerie Von Vertes

Sam Francis

Sam Francis

Bahnhofstrasse 16, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland

Aug 22, 2016 — Sep 12, 2016

Details

#715 Bernard Jacobson Gallery

Sam Francis: A Survey of Graphic Work

Sam Francis

Nov 27, 2015 — Jan 30, 2016

Details

Milwaukee Art Museum

Sam Francis: Master Printmaker

Sam Francis

700 N Art Museum Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53202, USA

Nov 24, 2015 — Mar 20, 2016

Sam Francis — November 24, 2015 – March 20, 2016

Details

#1,388 Van de Weghe

SAM FRANCIS Works on Paper from the 50s

SAM FRANCIS

Mar 18, 2015 — May 14, 2015

Details

#6,111 Galerie Von Vertes

Sam Francis: The Last Works

Sam Francis

Bahnhofstrasse 16, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland

May 27, 2014 — Jul 18, 2014

Details

#87 Leslie Sacks Gallery

Sam Francis

Sam Francis

2525 Michigan Ave b6, Santa Monica, CA 90404, United States

May 3, 2014 — Jun 14, 2014

Details

Jonathan Novak Contemporary Art

SAM FRANCIS – THE LAST WORKS

SAM FRANCIS

1880 Century Pk E # 100, Los Angeles, CA 90067, United States

Nov 7, 2011 — Feb 5, 2012

Details

#679 Tibor de Nagy

Sam Francis Paintings and Works on Paper

Sam Francis

11 Rivington Street, New York, NY 10002

Apr 21, 2011 — Jun 3, 2011

Details

#241 Mnuchin Gallery

Sam Francis 1953 - 1959

Sam Francis

45 E 78th St, New York, NY 10075, USA

Oct 15, 2009 — Dec 12, 2009

Details

#424 Van Doren Waxter

Sam Francis Works on Paper from the 1950s

Sam Francis

23 E 73rd St, New York, NY 10021, USA

Apr 3, 2003 — May 17, 2003

Details

#135 Cristea Roberts Gallery

Sam Francis Special Proofs Prints from the Estate 1959 - 1990

Sam Francis

Feb 7, 2001 — Mar 17, 2001

Details

#103 Gray

The Edge

Sam Francis

2044 West Carroll Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612

Jul 19, 2000 — Sep 16, 2000

Details

#4,220 Galerie Retelet

Sam Francis Solo exhibition

Sam Francis

7 Boulevard des Moulins

Apr 1, 1999 — Jun 30, 1999

Details

#103 Gray

Sam Francis Blue Forms: 1959-1961

Sam Francis

1018 Madison Ave Floor 2, New York, NY 10075, USA

Apr 17, 1998 — May 30, 1998

Details

#103 Gray

Graphics and Works on Paper

Sam Francis

875 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 3800, Chicago, IL 60611

Jul 6, 1995 — Aug 26, 1995

Details

#103 Gray

An Exhibition of Monotypes

Sam Francis

875 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 3800, Chicago, IL 60611

Jun 23, 1994 — Aug 1, 1994

Details

#953 The Greenberg Gallery

Sam Francis New Works

Sam Francis

230 S Bemiston Ave, St. Louis, MO 63105, USA

Nov 18, 1988 — Jan 7, 1989

Details

#103 Gray

Sam Francis New Paintings

Sam Francis

875 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 3800, Chicago, IL 60611

Oct 3, 1975 — Nov 15, 1975

Details

#6,687 Gallery HAAS & GSCHWANDTNER

Sam Francis: Metaphysque du Vide

Sam Francis

Details
stadium

Art Fair Appearances32

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TEFAF Maastricht — Maastricht
2026
Art Basel — Basel
2025
TEFAF Maastricht — Maastricht
2025
TEFAF New York — New York
2025
The Armory Show — New York
2025
artgenève — Geneva
2024
EXPO CHICAGO — Chicago
2024
Frieze Seoul — Seoul
2024
TEFAF Maastricht — Maastricht
2024
The Armory Show — New York
2024
Art Basel — Basel
2023
TEFAF Maastricht — Maastricht
2023
The Armory Show — New York
2023
Art Basel — Basel
2022
artgenève — Geneva
2022
EXPO CHICAGO — Chicago
2022
TEFAF Maastricht — Maastricht
2022
The Armory Show — New York
2022
Art Basel Hong Kong — Hong Kong
2021
The Armory Show — New York
2021
TEFAF Maastricht — Maastricht
2020
The Armory Show — New York
2020
Art Basel — Basel
2019
Art Basel Miami Beach — Miami Beach
2019
Frieze New York — New York
2019
The Armory Show — New York
2019
Art Basel — Basel
2018
Seattle Art Fair — Seattle
2018
TEFAF Maastricht — Maastricht
2018
The Armory Show — New York
2018
The Armory Show — New York
2017
Art Basel Hong Kong — Hong Kong
2016
timeline

Recent Activity20

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gallery_thumbnail
Exhibition
Sam Francis: Metaphysque du Vide
newspaper
News
The Works, Trends, and Artists Artnet Specialists Can’t Stop Thinking About
May 15, 2026
newspaper
News
Post-War & Contemporary Art
May 4, 2026
newspaper
News
Dallas Art Fair brings Texas's relationship-driven collecting community into focus
Apr 17, 2026
newspaper
News
Post War & Contemporary Art
Mar 18, 2026
stadium
Art Fair
TEFAF Maastricht 2026
Mar 14, 2026
gallery_thumbnail
Exhibition
TEFAF MAASTRICHT 2026 Solo Show: Sam Francis
Mar 14, 2026
newspaper
News
scarcity rarity artnet 20th century art auction
Mar 12, 2026
newspaper
News
Rago and Wright: Post War & Contemporary Art
Jan 28, 2026
gallery_thumbnail
Exhibition
On the Edge: Los Angeles Art from the Joan and Jack Quinn Family Collection
Dec 13, 2025
gallery_thumbnail
Exhibition
Fondation Expressionnisme. De Gabriele Münter à Sam Francis
Dec 5, 2025
newspaper
News
new money new taste intel report march 2025
Dec 5, 2025
newspaper
News
Christie's Paris Art Week - Christie's
Oct 2, 2025
stadium
Art Fair
The Armory Show 2025
Sep 4, 2025
newspaper
News
Remembering John Sailer, the gallerist and champion of Austrian art, who has died, aged 87
Jul 7, 2025
stadium
Art Fair
Art Basel 2025
Jun 19, 2025
gallery_thumbnail
Exhibition
Where Color Begins Works on Paper by Sam Francis
Jun 18, 2025
newspaper
News
white house art obamas
Jun 10, 2025
newspaper
News
Chelsea Exhibition Reviews: Rosebud Contemporary, Paula Cooper, Fredericks & Freiser, Berry Campbell and more
May 29, 2025
newspaper
News
5 highlight artnet auctions
May 16, 2025
newspaper

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