Sam Francis: 1950-1960

Presenting some of his most seminal work, Sam Francis: 1950-1960 explores the artist’s calligraphic strokes, splashes of color, and negative space inspired by his time in Japan. Eight works on paper in watercolor and gouache will be on view. About half of the work is from private collections and had not been on public view for decades until it was shown at TEFAF Maastricht in March. A fully illustrated catalogue will accompany the exhibition with an essay by curator and art critic Richard Speer, guest curator of the recent exhibition Sam Francis and Japan: Emptiness Overflowing at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).

One of the first post-World War II California painters to develop an international reputation, Francis traveled to Japan in 1957. He developed a lifelong interest in Japanese art and culture, and his work began to merge Eastern and Western aesthetics. His use of negative space is based on the Japanese concept of ma, which refers to the time and space life requires in order to breathe and grow.

High Line Nine is a curated space featuring eight galleries and an onsite café. Designed by StudioMDA, the international architecture firm founded by Markus Dochantschi, High Line Nine runs directly underneath the historic High Line from 27th to 28th Street.