Sam Francis (1923-1994) was an American painter known for his distinctive style of abstract expressionism. He was born in San Mateo, California, and studied at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a degree in art. Francis served in World War II as a pilot in the United States Air Force. After the war, he moved to Paris to continue his art studies and was influenced by the works of the French impressionists and post-impressionists. In the 1950s, Francis returned to the United States and became associated with the New York School of abstract expressionists, including Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko. He developed his own unique style, characterized by large canvases filled with bright, vivid colors and gestural brushstrokes. Throughout his career, Francis continued to experiment with different techniques and materials, including staining, splattering, and dripping paint onto his canvases. He also incorporated calligraphic and geometric shapes into his works. 

Francis's art has been exhibited in major museums around the world, including the Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Tate Gallery in London, and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. He was also the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1956. In addition to his paintings, Francis was also a prolific printmaker, creating hundreds of lithographs, etchings, and screenprints. He was also a poet, publishing several collections of his work. Today, Sam Francis's works continue to be highly sought after by collectors and art enthusiasts. His legacy as a pioneer of abstract expressionism and a master of color and composition remains strong, making him one of the most important American artists of the 20th century.