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 $100 million sold in the fine art division during his tenure. Among his notable achievements, Rick was responsible for the recent sale of Loie Hollowell’s mixed media work, Point of Entry (Blood-Orange Moon Over Orange Sac), selling for $1,050,000 (a U.S. record for the artist). 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 Northern and Southern California’s PBS television.
Senior Vice President
Deric Torres
Deric joined the Clars Auction Gallery team in 2009 and was instrumental in helping turn Clars into a nationally recognized auction gallery. Deric has brought many multi-million dollar estates and institutions to Clars from coast to coast, many achieving record setting prices in every department at the gallery. Deric played a pivotal role in securing property from the illustrious Metropolitan Museum of Art NYC. He made national news with the discovery of a rare Japanese cloisonne vase, executed for the Chicago Worlds Columbian Exhibition 1893, that was long thought lost and is now in a public institution. He has also been a regular guest commentator on Northern and Southern California’s PBS television, and the Seattle/Tacoma region.
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.
Senior Specialist, 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 & Timepieces
Yao Jiang
Yao Jiang serves as the Specialist in the Fine Jewelry & Timepieces department at Clars. Prior to joining Clars, Ms. Jiang began her career interning at Christie’s, Gurr Johns, and a regional auction house in Pittsburgh. She holds a Master of Arts Management degree from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Peking University. She is currently pursuing a Graduate Gemologist diploma at Gemological Institute of America. She is also fluent in Mandarin.