May Looks for Sam Francis Records

Both Sotheby’s and Christie’s will have striking Sam Francis works on offer this May as the houses seek to attract buyers by rotating the market into undervalued names. A second generation Abstract Expressionist formerly seen as a California artist, Francis’s work has been gaining market traction. In 2010, his work “Middle Blue” made $6.35m at Christie’s. Three years ago, Sotheby’s sold a work on paper for $1.14m.

Now both houses are back in the Sam Francis game. Summer #1, 1957 at Sotheby’s is estimated at between $8 and $12m. Getting a sum anywhere near that low estimate would be a record for the artist. Achieving a price at or above the high would double Francis’s best showing.