Sam Francis Value: Top Prices Paid at Auction

Created in 1955 during Francis's seminal Paris period, Composition In Blue And Black achieved the artist's current auction record when it sold at Christie's New York in November 2022. This monumental canvas, measuring almost 200 x 140 cm, exemplifies Francis' mature style with its distinctive cellular forms and balance of saturated blue tones against deep black voids. He was, at the time of the painting’s creation, heavily influenced by the likes of Pierre Bonnard and Henri Matisse - influence visible in his choice of vibrant colours, particularly the flecks of red and orange set against the blue cells. One year after the painting’s creation, Francis was selected to partake in the Twelve Americans exhibition at MoMA New York. This recognition significantly boosted his reputation. The work's exceptional provenance and impressive exhibition history at over 25 galleries, including MoMA and the Kunsthalle Basel, also contributed to its strong performance. Its sale marked a significant milestone, surpassing the artist's previous record by nearly £3million.

Summer #1 (1957) achieved its impressive result at Sotheby’s New York in May 2016, representing Francis' sophisticated exploration of space and colour during his most sought-after period. The large-scale work showcases the balance that is typical of his work. The compositional contradiction of areas of intense detail set beside areas of luminous emptiness is a technique the artist picked up during his time in Japan. Summer #1 reflects Francis’ slow transition towards his ‘edge’ painting style, wherein forms are concentrated on the periphery of the painting, with light and space taking precedence in the centre. The painting now resides in the Eli and Edythe L. Broad Collection at the Broad Museum in Los Angeles.

Selling at Sotheby’s New York in June 2020, Deep Blue, Yellow, Red (1956) was created during the artist’s time in France - the word “Paris” is inscribed on the back. The work's strong performance during the height of the pandemic demonstrated the resilience of Francis' market for exceptional examples. The painting's dynamic and seemingly whimsical composition, featuring his characteristic interplay of contrasting saturated colours, exemplifies the style that established his international reputation.

Red No. 1 (1953) was painted at Francis’ studio on Rue Tiphaine in Paris. It achieved this significant result at Sotheby's New York in November 2022, achieving 150% of its high estimate and marking a substantial increase from its previous sale at £2.6million in 2016. The piece was initially displayed as part of Francis’ career-defining exhibition at the Martha Jackson Gallery, New York, in 1956, but has since been exhibited globally - from New Delhi to Kyoto. Red became one of Francis’ favourite colours, with Terra Verde red being his preference in painting - a fact that may have been as much to do with the comparative cheapness of red paint at the time as the vibrant impact of the colour.

Sold at Christie's New York in May 2010, Middle Blue (1957) was a record-breaking sale for Sam Francis until the sale of Summer #1 (1957) in 2016. It was painted at a time when Sam Francis’ critical acclaim was rapidly building, as he spent a year traveling through Mexico, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, and India. The work's strong result, achieved during a more conservative market period, underscores collector appreciation for his most refined compositions. Middle Blue is a prime example of Francis’ ability to turn sharp lines, contrasting colours, independent shapes, and vast empty spaces into a composition that is filled with movement, unity, and softness.

The earliest work on this top-10 list, Red And Pink (1950-51) achieved this impressive value at Christie's New York in November 2014. It was the first painting Francis completed after moving to Paris in 1950, and is a perfect example of his early experimentation with colour relationships that would define his later practice. Before Francis found his love of rich blue and deep red, this painting relies on much softer hues, creating an almost watercolour effect using oil paints. Its success at auction, despite not being his most recognisable work, is in part due to its illustration of Francis’ artistic development, particularly his blossoming understanding of Abstract Expressionism and Colour Field painting.

This 1958 canvas sold at Christie's New York in May 2013, getting close to breaking the record of Middle Blue (1957) set three years earlier. While Untitled showcases the artist's handling of negative space, with characteristic bursts of colour, it adopts a slightly different colour palette to Francis’ other popular works from around this time. The usually saturated blue cells are replaced by an even more abstract arrangement of purple brushstrokes, partly influenced by the calligraphic work he came across on his travels across Asia the year before. The style is demonstrative of one review of his solo exhibition at the Martha Jackson Gallery - that his paintings resembled aerial views of landmasses. The work's successful sale in 2013 highlighted growing market appreciation for pieces that reflect this change in style towards a more minimal compositional approach.

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Why Then Opened II was created between 1962-63 and achieved this notable result at Christie's New York in May 2017. The painting represents Francis' evolution beyond his earlier Paris-period style, incorporating techniques developed during his time in Japan - the inscription “Venice Calif” on the back of the painting signifies Francis’ return to California. With a looser, more gestural, composition that is still reminiscent of Francis’ earlier cellular work, this painting pushed the boundaries of Abstract Expressionism, leaning further than ever into complete abstraction. Notably, Francis used a wider colour palette in this piece than in most of his contemporary and earlier works, introducing multiple shades of green.

Selling at Christie's New York in 2008, Black (1955) represents a rare monochromatic work from Francis's crucial mid-1950s period. It sold in 2008 at Christie’s New York’s Richard Neutra The Kaufmann House sale, at a time when the global financial crisis was rocking the art world. The appeal of Francis’ work from the Paris years, however, ensured that this sale was record-breaking. Despite its monochromatic focus, elements of Francis’ love of colour are still visible, with cells of yellow, red, and blue giving the piece depth behind the black. Black was created in the same year Time Magazine named Francis “the hottest American painter in Paris these days.”

This 1958 composition sold at Christie's New York in November 2012. With its deliberately complementary colours and dynamic top-to-bottom composition, this piece reflects the culmination of Francis’ eight-year stay in Paris, during which time his style fully matured. At this point in his career, Francis was enjoying immense critical endorsements, and his works commanded the highest prices of any living artist. Despite the painting’s title and primary colour palette, the piece is tied together significantly by the small fleck of rich green at the centre - evidence of Francis’ sophisticated and experienced understanding of colour theory.