This Sam Francis 1964, from the Pasadena Box, is lithograph in colors on wove paper, hand-signed by Sam Francis in pencil and annotated 'artist proof'.

This striking lithograph from 1964 forms the left panel of a triptych from An Other Set – Y, included in the celebrated Pasadena Box, a landmark portfolio that brought together some of the most innovative artists working in Los Angeles during the 1960s. In this dynamic composition, Sam Francis unleashes an electrifying constellation of color, gesture, and movement that exemplifies the bold experimentation that defined his work during this pivotal decade.

Across the surface, vibrant fields of crimson, golden yellow, and deep ultramarine collide with translucent circular forms and explosive splashes of pigment. These layered shapes—some appearing like floating orbs, others like bursts of energy—create a sense of rhythmic expansion across the sheet. Francis’s distinctive use of splattered marks and overlapping color forms evokes the spontaneous vitality of his painting practice while showcasing the remarkable expressive possibilities of lithography.

The composition pulses with kinetic energy, yet retains a remarkable balance between density and openness. Francis masterfully orchestrates the interaction between saturated color and the luminous white ground, allowing the composition to feel both expansive and alive with motion. The circular forms that dominate the composition echo motifs frequently explored in his work during the 1960s, suggesting movement, light, and atmospheric depth.

Created during a period when Francis was gaining major international recognition, works from this era capture the artist at the height of his creative powers. His groundbreaking approach to color and gesture helped expand the language of postwar abstraction, positioning him alongside the most influential artists of his generation.

Today, Sam Francis’s works are held in the permanent collections of leading institutions worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Tate Modern in London, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Prints from the Pasadena Box remain particularly sought after by collectors for their historical importance and their vivid demonstration of Francis’s unmistakable visual vocabulary.

Rich with movement, color, and expressive freedom, this compelling lithograph captures the essence of Sam Francis’s celebrated abstract language—an energetic composition where gesture and color converge in a work that feels both spontaneous and timeless.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:
Sam Francis Left Panel of the Triptych, from An Other Set - Y, from the Pasadena Box, 1964 is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonné and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that will accompany the sale of the work).

1. Sam Francis: Online Catalogue Raisonné Project, Ongoing, illustrated in color (online).
2. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this artwork.

About the Framing:
Framed to museum-grade, conservation standards, Sam Francis Left Panel of the Triptych, from An Other Set - Y, from the Pasadena Box, 1964 is presented in a complementary moulding and optical grade Plexiglas.