Untitled (SFP94-96), 1994

Name: Untitled (SFP94-96), 1994
Brand: Sam Francis
Availability: InStock

Sam Francis

Medium: acrylic on canvas

Signature: estate stamp verso

Framed size: 34 x 34"

Price on Request

15513581

//martinlawrence.com/cdn/shop/files/SAMFRANCIS_UNTITLED_SPF94-96.jpg?v=1767995470

1.0

//martinlawrence.com/cdn/shop/files/SAMFRANCIS_UNTITLED_SPF94-96.jpg?v=1767995470 1.0

//martinlawrence.com/cdn/shop/files/FAFRA940096_UntitledSFP94-96_framed_sm.jpg?v=1767995470 1.0239906377998829

"Untitled (SFP94-96)" is an acrylic on canvas painting created by Sam Francis in 1994. The artwork is estate stamped on verso. The artwork ships framed in a contemporary white frame and has a framed size of 34 x 34".

In 1994, the final year of his life, Sam Francis created a remarkable body of work marked by intensity, urgency, and radiant color. "Untitled (SFP94-96)" stands as a powerful example from this culminating series — an acrylic on canvas alive with explosive gesture, vivid contrasts, and emotional clarity. It is both testament and legacy: proof that, despite immense physical adversity, Francis continued to paint with a force that transcended bodily frailty and gave full expression to the expansiveness of his inner world.

Here, Francis unleashes a fearless orchestration of color. Bright reds, electric blues, and brilliant yellows surge across the canvas, colliding and dispersing in loosely gridded yet fluid formations. The composition feels at once structured and unbound — passages of pigment gather in clustered intensity, then dissolve into open breathing space. The splatters and bursts appear spontaneous, yet they reveal decades of discipline and experimentation beneath their immediacy.

The painting embodies Francis’s lifelong pursuit of what art historian William C. Agee called “the expressive and psychic power of color.” In "Untitled (SFP94-96)," color radiates outward; it does not sit passively on the surface. Layers of handmade pigments and acrylic create a dynamic push and pull between opacity and translucence, density and air. The result is a surface that vibrates — weightless yet charged with energy.

In his late works, Francis moves beyond pure abstraction toward something more metaphysical. The compositional clarity of earlier decades gives way here to fragmentation and dispersal, as though mirroring the instability and fragility of existence itself. There is no central anchor; the eye travels restlessly, guided only by rhythm and chromatic intensity. The painting becomes a visual field of consciousness — immediate, unfiltered, and alive.

Francis knew his medium intimately. Even at the edge of mortality, he manipulated pigment, saturation, and surface with extraordinary sensitivity. "Untitled (SFP94-96)" is more than a painting — it is an affirmation. It declares that color, in Francis’s hands, remained inexhaustible: a final assertion of vitality in the face of impermanence.

45672853569853

45672853569853::Default Title::::,

Details

Medium: acrylic on canvas
Year: 1994

Canvas size: 30 x 30"
Framed size: 34 x 34"

Signature: estate stamp verso

Reference:

SFP94-96

Literature:

Galleri Fauschou. Sam Francis: The Last Works. Galleri Fauschour, 1999. pgs. 52-53. SFP94-96.

About the Work

About the Artist

Sam Francis (1923 – 1994), internationally celebrated for his radiant use of color and light, stands as one of the great figures of postwar abstraction. His bold canvases, rooted in Abstract Expressionism yet enriched by global influences from Paris to Tokyo, speak directly to today’s collectors seeking works that transcend boundaries of place and time. Francis’s paintings and works on paper are represented in the world’s leading museums, including MoMA (New York), Tate (London), Centre Pompidou (Paris), LACMA (Los Angeles), and SFMOMA. His market remains exceptionally strong, underscored by recent record-breaking sales and renewed curatorial attention, such as LACMA’s 2023 exhibition Sam Francis and Japan: Emptiness Overflowing. With their luminous expanses of white and bursts of vivid blues, reds, and golds, Francis’s works feel startlingly contemporary, anchoring him as a cornerstone of 20th-century art whose vision remains vital in the 21st-century market.

Untitled (SFP94-96), 1994

$295,000.00

SELECTED WORK

Start your collection with guidance you can trust

For nearly 50 years, we’ve helped new collectors find artwork they love and understand the stories behind each piece. Our gallery consultants offer personalized guidance, whether you’re exploring originals, limited editions, or discovering an artist for the first time. Visit your nearest gallery to start collecting with confidence.

Reach Out to a Consultant

Visit your nearest gallery

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included with my purchase?

Your artwork comes with a Certificate of Authenticity (or Letter of Authenticity), professional packaging, and insured delivery.

How is the artwork shipped?

We ship fully insured, using trusted carriers. Each piece is professionally packed to ensure safe arrival. Shipping times vary based on the location of the art, its destination, and whether or not it is framed (ready to ship) at the time of your purchase.

Do you frame the artwork?

All our works come beautifully framed. Some print multiples may have framing options if we have unframed editions available in our warehouse. Our in-house framing provides high-quality moulding, acid-free materials and either UV plexiglass or framer’s grade acrylic. High value works may be framed in custom, closed-corner frames, and are often framed in Optium museum glass for enhanced clarity.

Does Martin Lawrence Galleries provide Appraisal Services?

No, Martin Lawrence Galleries does not provide appraisal services. To ensure that appraisals are fully independent and unbiased, it is best practice for them to be carried out by certified appraisers who have not had prior involvement with the sale or handling of the artwork. For that reason, we do not appraise artworks that we handle, and instead recommend that collectors seek an independent, certified appraiser.

Does Martin Lawrence Galleries take works in on consignment?

No, we own the vast majority of our inventory and do not seek out consignments from Sellers.

Will Martin Lawrence Galleries help me install my artwork?

Yes, if you purchase from a local gallery, your consultant will be happy to assist you with hanging the artwork in your home.

Can I see the artwork in person?

Martin Lawrence Galleries has seven galleries across the country where you may be able to see the exact piece you are interested in. Print and sculpture multiples are more likely to be in several places for possible viewings whereas unique artworks will be constrained to one location. We are happy to facilitate your visit to one of our galleries if that is convenient for you. We can also take videos and extensive photos if a visit is not possible. Please contact us at martinlawrencegalleries.com.

Why buy from Martin Lawrence Galleries?

We have over 50 years of experience, seven gallery locations across the United States, and a track record of connecting collectors with the right artwork.

Is buying art complicated?

No. Our consultants are here to guide you through the process, answer your questions, and make buying art simple and rewarding.

How do I know what artwork is right for me?

We encourage you to buy what you love. Our consultants will help you find the right piece that fits your taste and collection.

How should I care for my artwork?

Please visit our page on specific instructions on how to take care of your artworks. Care Instructions

Return Policy

We stand by our artwork. Please review our detailed return policy here.