Sam Francis from the Idemitsu Collection

The American Abstract Expressionist painter Sam Francis (1923-1994) is one of the greatest masters of the latter half of the twentieth century. He was born in San Mateo, California, near San Francisco, and studied botany, psychology, and medicine in college. After joining the military, a flight training accident forced him to stay in a hospital bed for more than a year, and it was during this period of recuperation that he first started painting. He eventually began painting in an abstract style and made his debut as an up-and-coming young artist in Paris. He later based his work in California but moved back and forth between studios in Paris, New York, and Tokyo, creating unique paintings remarkable for their splendid colors.

It is often pointed out that Francis's works have much in common with Eastern, and especially Japanese art. He first came to Japan in 1957. He associated with Japanese poets, musicians, and intellectuals as well as artists, and he is known for his strong connections with Japan.

The works in this exhibition have been selected from the internationally prominent collection of Francis's paintings held by Idemitsu Museum of Arts. It gives a comprehensive view of his oeuvre from the early to the late years, including many works, some of them very large, that have not been seen in public before. This exhibition has great significance in providing an opportunity to take a fresh look at the career of this marvelous painter.

Exhibition Title
Sam Francis from the Idemitsu Collection
Period
April 5 - May 25, 2003
Closed
Mondays (except April 28, May 5) and May 6
Opening Hours
10：00 - 18：00 (Tickets available until 17:30)
Organized by
Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo / The Yomiuri Shimbun
By loan courtesy of
Idemitsu Museum of Arts