Untitled (SFP94-143, SFF.1813) 1994

Sam Francis made this unnamed painting, probably not long before he died, using a juicy palette of red, yellow, blue, and black. I can almost feel the artist's hand, how the work must have come into being through a back-and-forth, shifting and emerging through trial, error, and intuition. What might Francis have been thinking when he made it? Perhaps he was concerned with the way forms and colors interact, and how they affect the eye. I’m particularly drawn to the black splatters, that dance on the painting's surface, hinting at depth and movement. What's so appealing about this painting is that it's both intentional and accidental. I think Francis was in conversation with artists like Joan Mitchell, sharing ideas about color and gesture. Painting is an ongoing dialogue across time, inspiring creativity through ambiguity and uncertainty. This piece is a testament to that.