**Originally Listed At $300**

Sam Francis (American, 1923-1994). Untitled offset lithograph of a monotype, ca. 1970s. Signed by the artist in red on lower right. "Experimental Workshop" printed in blue on lower right. A hand-signed offset lithograph of a fabulous monotype in colors by Abstract Expressionist Sam Francis that was printed by Experimental Workshop of San Francisco, California. Size of image: 24.5" L x 20" W (62.2 cm x 50.8 cm) Size of frame: 31.375" L x 26.5" W (79.7 cm x 67.3 cm)

Sam Francis studied painting with Mark Rothko and Clyfford Still. Born in California, he graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1950 and also studied with Fernand Leger at the artist's private Parisian academy. By the 1960s, Francis landed upon his distinct gestural, sponaneous style. Beyond painting, Francis was a dedicated graphic artist who enjoyed exploring printmaking techniques. Experimenting was critical to his process, and he never stopped pursuing the possibilities of the medium. In 1970, Francis set up his own printing workshop called the Litho Shop in Santa Monica, California.

Francis had his first solo exhibition at Galerie Nina Dausset, Paris in 1952. Ever since he his work has been featured at many institutions including a major retrospective at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (2001) that travelled to Malmo, Sweden; Madrid, Spain and Rome, Italy; Museum of Modern Art, Toyama, Japan (1988); Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston (1979); Whitney Museum of American Art, New York (1972) which toured to several venues in the United States; Centre national d'Art contemporain, Fondation Rothschild, Paris (1968); Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (1967) and Pasadena Art Museum, California (1959). In 1981 the French Ministry of Culture appointed Francis as Commandeur de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

Due to oversized nature of this piece, please inquire before bidding for shipping estimate to your location.

Provenance: private Evergreen, Colorado, USA collection; ex-private Denver, Colorado, USA, collection; acquired 1960 to 2000

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#163725

This lithograph has not been examined outside the frame. It is signed by the artist in red on lower right. "Experimental Workshop" is printed in blue on lower right. Lithograph appears to be intact and vivid with strong coloration.