Our Specialists and Staff
CEO & President
Rick Unruh
Rick Unruh has been CEO and President of Clars since 2019 and Director of Fine Art since 2010. Under his leadership, Clars’ Fine Art department has had numerous world auction records, as well as, over a decade of consecutive record years of sales growth with over $150 million sold in the fine art division during his tenure. Among his notable achievements, Rick was responsible for the recent sale of Salvador Dali’s painting, Portrait of Mrs. Luther Greene, which sold for $720,000 as well as Loie Hollowell’s mixed media work, Point of Entry (Blood-Orange Moon Over Orange Sac), selling for $1,050,000. Prior to this, Rick was an institutional equities trader with several international investment banking firms in New York and Paris. Rick has established numerous client relationships with affluent collectors, corporations, museums, galleries, and dealers both in the U.S. and internationally. He has also been a regular guest commentator on several West Coast PBS television stations.
Senior Vice President
Deric Torres
Deric is a seasoned acquisitions specialist and appraiser with over 15 years of experience in the auction industry. Since joining Clars Auctions in 2009, he has played a pivotal role in elevating the gallery to national prominence. Deric’s expertise and relationship-building skills have secured multi-million-dollar estates and institutions as well as Clars’ clients from coast to coast. Many of his clients have achieved world record setting prices in several areas of their multi-level collections. Among his notable achievements are securing property from the esteemed Metropolitan Museum of Art and discovering an important Japanese cloisonné vase, long thought lost, executed for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Deric’s passion for the industry extends beyond the gallery walls. He shares his knowledge and insights as a regular guest commentator on California and Washington state PBS stations and has been featured on the internationally syndicated television series Pawn Stars on the
Associate Director, Asian Art
Harry Huang
With over a decade of experience in the auction industry, Harry was previously the Head of Asian Art at Michaan’s Auctions and Fine Estate Inc. He holds a Master of Letters degree in Art History of China from Christie’s Education, London accredited by the University of Glasgow. Harry is fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese.
Associate Director, Fine Art
Alexa Malvino
Alexa Malvino has been with the company since 2014. Ms. Malvino received her Master’s in Art History from San Francisco State University, with a focus on printmaking, along with her Bachelor of Arts in the History of Art and Visual Culture from University California, Santa Cruz. Today, she manages the print multiples, photography, and contemporary art sales at Clars. Alexa is also one of the auctioneers at the gallery.
Senior Specialist, Fine Art
Erin Cabral
Erin Cabral is a Senior Specialist in the Fine Art Department at Clars. She has worked in the auction industry for over a decade beginning her career at Bonhams in San Francisco where she was a cataloguer then specialist in the California and Western Paintings and Sculpture department. Prior to joining Clars, Erin was the Fine Art Specialist at Fine Estate Inc. She has also worked in fine art galleries, most recently at Berggruen Gallery in San Francisco. Erin received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History from the University of California, Davis.
Senior Specialist, Furniture & Decorative Arts
Elizabeth Dalton
Elizabeth Dalton is a Senior Specialist in the Furniture & Decorative Arts Department at Clars. Elizabeth has had over thirty years of auction experience in the Bay Area. Prior to joining Clars in 2019, Elizabeth headed the Furniture & Decorative Arts Department at Michaans Auctions where she was responsible for their Fine and monthly Estate auctions for fifteen years. During the 1990s Elizabeth worked at Butterfield & Butterfield as a Cataloguer and an Inventory Controller for Asian, Furniture and Decorative Arts departments. Prior to moving to San Francisco, Elizabeth worked as a curatorial researcher at Corcoran Art Gallery in Washington DC and in the Education Department at National Gallery of Arts during The Treasure House of Britain exhibit. Elizabeth received a BA in art history from University of Southern California and a postgraduate certificate from Sotheby’s Works of Arts, London.
Senior Specialist, Furniture & Decorative Arts
Suzy Pai
Suzy Pai is a specialist in the Furniture & Decorative Arts Department at Clars. She has over 20 years’ experience in brick-and-mortar auctions and luxury online resale. Suzy began her career at Bonhams in San Francisco in 1999, and worked there for 17 years as a cataloguer, then specialist and auctioneer for the Decorative Arts Department. Prior to joining Clars, she was the Account Manager for Galleries for Sotheby’s online, and Luxury Manager for private consignors at The RealReal. Suzy received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History from Boston University.
Specialist, Fine Jewelry & Watches
Campbell Unruh
Campbell Unruh is the Fine Jewelry & Watches Specialist at Clars. Prior to joining Clars, he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from RISD (Rhode Island School of Design) in 2020 in Jewelry Design and Metalsmithing.