American artist Sam Francis is noted as one of the first post-World War II painters to develop an international reputation. After graduating from Cal Berkeley in 1950 with a degree in art, Francis moved to Paris, where he would go on to be named by Time Magazine as, "the hottest American painter in Paris these days." Francis has travelled extensively and through his travels he was exposed to many styles, techniques and cultural influences, which later formed the development of his style of painting. His paintings embody his love of literature, music and science, while reflecting his deep range of emotions. Selected solo exhibitions included: 1959 at Pasadena Art Museum; San Francisco Museum of Art; Seattle Art Museum; 1972 Whitney Museum of American Art, New York City; Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, Texas; 2004, 2005, 2009, 2012 Gallery Delaive, Amsterdam. Francis’ murals are also shown at the ceiling of the Opera National, Theatre Royal de la Monnaie, Brussels; San Francisco Museum of Art.