Untitled (SFE 092) 1993

Here we have an undated, untitled piece made with who-knows-what by Sam Francis, who was clearly having a blast. He throws down these big puddles of color and lets them bleed, creating a dance between control and chance. Look at that looping shape, almost like a smile turned on its side. It’s made of these bright, distinct patches – reds, greens, blues – each one a little world of its own. Notice how the colors aren't contained; they drip and bleed into each other, creating these gorgeous, unpredictable textures. Some areas are opaque, dense with pigment, while others are so thin you can see the white of the paper shining through. Francis reminds me a bit of Joan Miró, especially in the way he lets the materials lead the dance. It's like he's saying, "Here's some paint, some paper, let's see what happens." And what happens is always something surprising, something beautiful, something that makes you want to pick up a brush and join the conversation.