June Modern + Contemporary Art Highlights

  • Auction
  • Modern + Contemporary

Clars is excited to present our Summer Modern + Contemporary Art sale on Friday, June 17th.

The offered works will span numerous movements and mediums. One major highlight of the sale will be a striking oil on canvas by Bay Area artist, Raimonds Staprans (American, b. 1926). The 1990 work, titled Blue Boats, is a strong example of his use of bold colors and geometric forms to build his composition. The presence of heavy linear division and abstraction of everyday objects makes the work a stunning example of his hallmark style. While he considers himself an abstract painter, his works were influential in the Bay Area Figurative Movement, along with colleagues Wayne Thiebaud and Robert Diebenkorn. The painting is estimated at $150,000–$200,000.


Raimonds Staprans (American/Latvian, b. 1926), <em>Blue Boats</em>, 1990, oil on canvas, 44" x 48".
Raimonds Staprans (American/Latvian, b. 1926), Blue Boats, 1990, oil on canvas, 44″ x 48″.
Estimate: $150,000–$200,000

Another important work being offered is a work on paper, titled Odalisque by Henri Matisse (French, 1869–1954). Considered the godfather of Fauvism, Matisse is renowned for his vibrant portraits, still lifes, and cut-out paper collages. After an influential trip to Morocco in the 1910s, Matisse drafted numerous examples of the Odalisque, inspired by the orient and the ideal exoticism. Clars Auction Gallery is pleased to offer a 1928 “return to order” study of the Odalisque, composed of black india ink. Previously exhibited at Delaware Art Museum and from the ex-collection of Baltimore, Maryland architect Robert Raley, the work on paper is estimated at $60,000–$80,000. Clars is grateful to George Matisse for confirming the authenticity of the drawing.


Henri Matisse (French, 1869–1954), <em>Odalisque</em>, 1928, black india ink on Arches paper, 10" x 13".
Henri Matisse (French, 1869–1954), Odalisque, 1928, black india ink on Arches paper, 10″ x 13″.
Estimate: $60,000–$80,000

Other important pieces to be offered in the sale include works by Leonor Fini, Gordon Onslow Ford, Yayoi Kusama, and Ray Parker to name a few.


Leonor Fini (Argentine/French, 1908–1996), <em>Passenger XXXVIII (Azuba)</em>, 1987, oil on paper (mounted on canvas), 17.75" x 21.75".<br><b>Estimate: $30,000–$50,000</b>
Leonor Fini (Argentine/French, 1908–1996), Passenger XXXVIII (Azuba), 1987, oil on paper (mounted on canvas), 17.75″ x 21.75″, (one of five to be offered).
Estimate: $30,000–$50,000
Leonor Fini (Argentine/French, 1908–1996), Zorniga, 1959, oil on canvas, 31.5" x 10".Sold: $187,500
Leonor Fini (Argentine/French, 1908–1996), Zorniga, 1959, oil on canvas, 31.5″ x 10″, (one of five to be offered)..
Estimate: $30,000–$50,000
Leonor Fini (Argentine/French, 1908–1996), Passage IV, 1990, oil on canvas, 29" x 23.75".Estimate: $30,000–$50,000
Leonor Fini (Argentine/French, 1908–1996), Passage IV, 1990, oil on canvas, 29″ x 23.75″, (one of five to be offered).
Estimate: $30,000–$50,000
Gordon Onslow Ford (British, 1912–2003), <em>Mountains of Desire</em>, 1939, oil on canvas, 28.75" x 36", (one of two to be offered).<br><b>Estimate: $50,000–$70,000</b>
Gordon Onslow Ford (British, 1912–2003), Mountains of Desire, 1939, oil on canvas, 28.75″ x 36″.
Estimate: $50,000–$70,000
Gordon Onslow Ford (British, 1912–2003), <em>The Wish 2</em>, 1945, oil on canvas, 29.5" x 36".<br><b>Estimate: $40,000–$60,000</b>
Gordon Onslow Ford (British, 1912–2003), The Wish 2, 1945, oil on canvas, 29.5″ x 36″.
Estimate: $40,000–$60,000
Yayoi Kusama (Japanese, b. 1939), Pumpkin, 1983, screenprint, 23" x 19" (one of two to be offered). Estimate: $30,000–$50,000
Yayoi Kusama (Japanese, b. 1939), Pumpkin, 1983, screenprint, 23″ x 19″ (one of two to be offered).
Estimate: $30,000–$50,000
Ray Parker (American, 1922–1990), Untitled, 1979, oil and acrylic on canvas, 67.25" x 153.75". <br><b>Estimate: $50,000–$70,000</b>
Ray Parker (American, 1922–1990), Untitled, 1979, oil and acrylic on canvas, 67.25″ x 153.75″.
Estimate: $50,000–$70,000
Christopher Brown (American, b. 1951), <em>Summer Rose</em>, oil on canvas, 65" x 65". <br><b>Estimate: $30,000– $50,000</b>
Christopher Brown (American, b. 1951), Summer Rose, oil on canvas, 65″ x 65″.
Estimate: $30,000–$50,000
Charles Arthur (Chuck) Arnoldi, (American, b. 1946), <em>Pico</em>, 1978, acrylic on canvas, 40" x 34".<br><b>Estimate: $25,000–$30,000</b>
Charles Arthur (Chuck) Arnoldi, (American, b. 1946), Pico, 1978, acrylic on canvas, 40″ x 34″.
Estimate: $25,000–$30,000
Tom Wesselmann (American, 1931–2004), <em>Cynthia in the Bedroom</em>, 1981, screenprint, 27" x 30.5".<br><b>Estimate: $5,000–$7,000</b>
Tom Wesselmann (American, 1931–2004), Cynthia in the Bedroom, 1981, screenprint, 27″ x 30.5″.
Estimate: $5,000–$7,000
George Peck (Hungarian/American, b. 1941), <em>Romantic Painting #1</em>, 1978, oil and wax on canvas, 72" x 69".<br><b>Estimate: $5,000–$7,000</b>
George Peck (Hungarian/American, b. 1941), Romantic Painting #1, 1978, oil and wax on canvas, 72″ x 69″.
Estimate: $5,000–$7,000
Fraser Smith (American, b. 1958), <em>The Cats of Morpheus</em>, 1988, watercolor on wood, 55" x 47".<br><b>Estimate: $4,000–$6,000</b>
Fraser Smith (American, b. 1958), The Cats of Morpheus, 1988, watercolor on wood, 55″ x 47″.
Estimate: $4,000–$6,000

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