Working across multiple mediums, David Hockney is known for his painting, drawing, prints, photography, collage, set design and digital media.
Hockney was born on July 9, 1937 in Bradford, United Kingdom, and studied at Bradford School of Art and London’s Royal College of Art. In 1964, Hockney moved to California. Drawing inspiration from the region’s light, color, and landscape, his swimming pool paintings garnered him international recognition.
David Hockney (British, b. 1937), Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm, 1970, complete portfolio of thirty-nine (39) etchings, with additional six (6) loose etchings, 17.75″ x 12.5″. Sold: $34,375
During the 1980’s, Hockney began creating intricate photo collages that he called “joiners.” His early photo-collages consisted of polaroid photographs in a grid. He evolved his style to photo lab processed 35mm photographs, creating abstract representations of the scenes he had photographed in a more organic layout. Photos were taken over a number of minutes, highlighting Hockney’s interest in showing the passing of time, and often show slightly different perspectives of the subject. Deeply inspired by artists such as Pablo Picasso and Greorge Braque, Hockney’s photographic collages are a historical nod to the cubist collages that inspired him. He remains one of the greatest living artists of his generation.
Annie Leibovitz began her artistic career at the San Francisco Art Institute in the late 1960s, where she originally studied painting but was inspired to change her focus to photography.
Clars’ is excited to present our Fall Modern + Contemporary Art Auction on September 14th. The sale will feature artworks spanning movements and decades, with notable works for all collectors.
Henrietta Berk’s artistic prowess stood out as she delved into the intricacies of human emotion and intimacy during the Bay Area Figurative Movement.
Artist Spotlight
Fine Art
Summer Modern + Contemporary Art Highlights
Auction
Modern + Contemporary
This June 15th at Clars Auction Gallery, we are excited to offer a number of excellent pieces by esteemed artists throughout the Modern and Contemporary periods.
First featured is a photo-collage by influential English artist, David Hockney. Titled Gregory Watching the Snowfall, Kyoto, February 21st, 1983, the arrangement of violet-toned photographs depicts Hockney’s partner, assistant, and frequent model, Gregory Evans, lying in bed and looking out the window of a Japanese washitsu at the garden outside.
David Hockney (British, b. 1937), Gregory Watching the Snowfall, Kyoto, Feb. 21st 1983, 1983, photograph collage on paper, 46.6″ x 43.6″. Estimate: $25,000–$35,000
Louis Valtat (French, 1869–1952), Fraises, circa 1902, oil on board, 10.75″ x 13.5″. Estimate: $20,000–$30,000
Another highlight in the June sale is an oil on board painting by French Fauve artist, Louis Valtat. The work, titled Fraises, depicts a cluster of bright red strawberries on a deep green lettuce leaf. Valtat’s technique blends the color-forward elements of Fauvism with the expressive brushwork of Impressionism to create a sense of movement in a traditional still-life composition.
Jasper Johns (American, b. 1930), Flag (Moratorium), 1969, offset lithograph in colors, edition 97/300, 17″ x 26″. Estimate: $15,000–$20,000
Lastly, we are presenting a signed multiple by American Neo-Dadaist, Jasper Johns. Titled Flag (Moratorium), the print is a rendering of perhaps Johns’ most well-known subject: the American flag. This work was made to commemorate the anti-Vietnam War demonstrations that took place in 1969. The symbolic use of orange and camouflage-green tones, along with a white “bullet hole” in the center of the image, is meant to highlight the violence that occurred throughout the controversial war.
Paul Klee (German, 1879–1940), Fragment einer Wandmalerei (Fragment of a Mural Painting), 1933, watercolor and titanium white glue on paper laid down on cardboard, 7.5″ x 9.75″. Estimate: $50,000–$70,000
Alecos Fassianos (Greek, 1935–2022), Figure in Blue, 1963, oil on canvas, 39″ x 51.75″. Estimate: $15,000–$20,000
This sale will also offer additional important works by renowned artists such as Rafael Coronel, Brett Weston, Milton Reskin, Wayne Thiebaud, and Hunt Slonem.
Brett Weston (American, 1911–1993), White Sands, 1949, portfolio of twelve (12) gelatin silver prints, 7.75″ x 9.5″. Estimate: $15,000–$20,000
Gunther Gerzso (Mexican, 1915–2000), Eleysis III, 1961, oil on canvas affixed to board, 17″ x 12.75″. Estimate: $12,000–$18,000
Rafael Coronel (Mexican, 1932–2019), Gudelia, 1961, oil on board, 40.5″ x 30.5″. Estimate: $10,000–$15,000
March Avery (American, b. 1932), Resting Nude, 1989, oil on canvas, 18.25″ x 42.25″. Estimate: $10,000–$15,000
Brett Weston (American, 1911–1993), Abstractions II, 1927–1980, portfolio of twenty (20) gelatin silver prints, 10.75″ x 13.75″. Estimate: $10,000–$15,000
(lot of 2) Franz Hagenauer (Austrian, 1906–1986), Male and Female Busts, circa 1935, stainless steel sculptures. Estimate: $8,000–$12,000
Wayne Thiebaud (American, 1920–2011), Portrait of Jean Lee Porter, 1951/52, oil on canvas/board, 16″ x 12″. Estimate: $8,000–$12,000
Hunt Slonem (American, b. 1951), Untitled, 2014, oil on wood panel, 24″ x 20″. Estimate: $8,000–$12,000
Marcel Dyf (French, 1899–1985), Untitled (Still Life with Flowers), 1969, oil on canvas, 28.75″ x 23.5″. Estimate: $7,000–$10,000
Salvador Dali (Spanish/1904–1989), Le Decameron, 1972, portfolio of ten (10) drypoint etchings, 18.5″ x 13.5″. Estimate: $7,000–$10,000
Bill Brandt (British, 1904–1983), London (Nude with Bent Elbow), 1952, gelatin silver print, 13.5″ x 11.5″. Estimate: $6,000–$9,000
Nathan Oliveira (American, 1928–2010), Angel Rocker, 2005, color sugar lift aquatint and drypoint etching, 44.5″ x 35.25″. Estimate: $6,000–$9,000
Freedom or Slavery: The Paul Robeson Portfolio, 1998, a portfolio of fourteen (14) screenprints, including works by Elizabeth Catlett, Betye Saar, Erique Chagoya, Rupert Garcia, Raymond Saunders, 25.25″ x 20″. Estimate: $5,000–$7,000
Squeak Carnwath (American, b. 1947), Not Fact, 1996, oil and alkyd on canvas, 55″ x 55″. Estimate: $5,000–$7,000
Clars is excited to present our Winter Furniture, Art & Jewelry Auction on December 15th and our Fine Asian Art & European Décor Auction on December 16th.
Clars is excited to present our Fine Interiors & Design Auction on November 17th and our Art, Furniture and Asian Auction on November 18th. Both Auctions begin at 9:30 AM PST.
A featured highlight this month is a watercolor on paper by influential German-Swiss artist Paul Klee. This piece, titled Fragment of a Mural (Fragment einer Wandmalerei), shows an abstract image that is left to the viewer to decipher. Klee is known for the use of geometric forms in his work — often building his arrangements with triangles and rectangles — but here we see an unrecognizable object, made more mysterious by the title identifying it as just one section from a larger composition. Klee is perhaps even better known for his innovative take on color theory. The blending of purple into red into gray tones seen in this work illustrates Klee’s opinion that small sections of color could be unified to create a harmonious visual. Furthermore, during his time as an instructor at the Bauhaus, Klee taught as a master of stained glass, often using smoking techniques to color pieces of glass. The muted tones in this watercolor echo the hazy, blended hues that would result from smoking glass. The work on paper is estimated at $100,000–$150,000.
Paul Klee (German, 1879–1940), Fragment einer Wandmalerei, 1933, gouache, 7.5″ x 9.75″ (19.05 x 24.8 cm). Estimate: $100,000–$150,000
Also included in the sale this month is a work on paper, titled Green Hill, by American artist, Mark Tobey. As a founder of the Northwest School in Seattle, Washington, Tobey imbued in his peers an appreciation of East Asian culture — the effects of which are visible in Green Hill, with its muted color palette echoing Shan Shui landscapes, and an expressionist style that mimics calligraphy. The misty atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest was a driving influence on Tobey, who used earthy tones to illustrate Green Hill, with the green of the hill obscured almost completely by a heavy fog against a sepia sky. Green Hill is dated 1957, the year before Tobey became the second American artist to win the International Grand Prize at the 1958 Venice Biennale. The work is estimated at $30,000–$50,000.
Mark Tobey (American, 1890–1976), Green Hill, 1957, tempera, 12.25″ x 18″ (30.8 x 45.4 cm). Estimate: $30,000–$50,000
Another important work in the February sale is a steel sculpture by acclaimed Mexican artist, Rufino Tamayo. The piece depicts two figures, likely one male and one female based on their clothing, standing with hands overlapped in an uncomplicated embrace. The stylized figures are reminiscent of the simplified figures seen in well-known Tamayo paintings like Tres Personajes, with dominant geometric lines replacing the naturalistic curves of the human body. The sculpture shows the figures’ bodies as rectangles, with semicircle arms and circular hands. The male figure’s legs and female figure’s skirt are triangular, and the base is a narrow rectangular platform. The gray patina of the metallic material is consistent throughout and recalls the stone and clay sculptures of the Zapotec, an indigenous Pre-Colombian culture from whom Tamayo claimed both heritage and inspiration. The work is estimated at $70,000–$100,000.
Next featured in the February sale is the Makemono lithograph scroll by Catalan painter and sculptor, Joan Miró, created circa 1956. Considered a major figure in the Surrealist family, Miró uses this color-printed Chanton silk scroll to marry a traditional East Asian medium with his “automatism” technique, a method of revealing an individual’s psyche through spontaneous drawing and painting. Makemono presents form and color before narrative, showing abstract human figures interspersed with birds, eyes, and nonobjective forms derived purely from the artist’s imagination. From an edition of only 50, the vibrant scroll is anchored by wooden batons on each of the two ends and includes its original carved and painted wood box. The scroll is estimated at $20,000–$30,000.
Joan Miró (Spanish, 1893–1983), Makemono, 1956, color lithographic scroll in colors on silk with wooden batons (accompanied with original carved and painted wood box), 16.13″ x 382″ (41 x 970 cm). Estimate: $20,000–$30,000
Other notable artworks to be offered in the sale include prints by Yayoi Kusama, a ceramic plate by Pablo Picasso, and a painting by Guy Anderson.
Yayoi Kusama (Japanese, b. 1929), Pumpkin, 1982, lithograph in colors with collage, 22.75″h x 18.75w″. Estimate: $30,000–$50,000
Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973), Visage Masque, 1947, ceramic plate, 12.5″ x 15″ (31.75 x 38.1 cm). Estimate: $20,000–$30,000
Fernand Léger (French, 1881–1955), Deux Personnages, 1947, watercolor, 12.5″ x 16.25″ (32 x 41 cm). Estimate: $60,000–$90,000
Enrico Donati (American/Italian, 1909–2008), Luxor VIII, 1979, oil and sand on canvas, 50″ x 48″ (127 x 122 cm). Estimate: $10,000–$15,000
Clars is excited to present our Winter Furniture, Art & Jewelry Auction on December 15th and our Fine Asian Art & European Décor Auction on December 16th.
Clars is excited to present our Fine Interiors & Design Auction on November 17th and our Art, Furniture and Asian Auction on November 18th. Both Auctions begin at 9:30 AM PST.
Clars’ October 16th Fall Fine & Rare Wines Auction will feature a vast array of rare French bordeauxes and burgundies.
Auction
Fine & Rare Wines
Artist Spotlight: Jaime “Germs” Zacarias
Artist Spotlight
Modern + Contemporary
Jaime Zacarias, also known as “GERMS,” is an artist native to South Los Angeles who names his Chicano heritage and predecessors among his influences.
Jaime “Germs” Zacarias (American, 21st century), Queso, 2016, acrylic on canvas, 60″ x 48″. Sold: $500
Mentored by Chicano painter, Gilbert “Magú” Lujan, and taking inspiration from the Surrealists as well as Avant Garde and street artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring, Zacarias paints otherworldly creatures that draw reference from familiar imagery while creating strikingly original forms.
Jaime “Germs” Zacarias (American, 21st century), Untitled (Free/Dumb), 2022, acrylic on canvas, 36″ x 36″. Sold: $750
Jaime “Germs” Zacarias (American, 21st century), Ziggy, 2014, acrylic on canvas, 48″ x 36″. Sold: $500
Zacarias says, “I find myself mesmerized by the seemingly infinite details and borderline infectious behaviors of each character I create, while striving to transform and challenge the traditional interpretations of the icons we all know so well.” The marriage of nostalgia and innovation in the work of GERMS creates a visual language that transcends barriers, both cultural and temporal.
Jaime “Germs” Zacarias (American, 21st century), L.A. Taco, 2016, acrylic on canvas, 40″ x 16″. Sold: $562.50
Jaime “Germs” Zacarias (American, 21st century), Untitled (Squid), acrylic on canvas, 36″ x 24″. Sold: $500
Annie Leibovitz began her artistic career at the San Francisco Art Institute in the late 1960s, where she originally studied painting but was inspired to change her focus to photography.
Clars’ is excited to present our Fall Modern + Contemporary Art Auction on September 14th. The sale will feature artworks spanning movements and decades, with notable works for all collectors.
Henrietta Berk’s artistic prowess stood out as she delved into the intricacies of human emotion and intimacy during the Bay Area Figurative Movement.
Artist Spotlight
Fine Art
Fall Modern + Contemporary Art + Design Post Sale Highlights
Modern + Contemporary
Stories & News
The September 16 Modern + Contemporary Art + Design sale at Clars, totaled over $1.3M across 230 lots.
Andy Warhol (American, 1928–1987), Cowboys and Indians (the complete set of ten screenprints), 1986, screenprints in colors, 36″ x 36″ each. Sold: $503,750
Clars’ Fall Modern + Contemporary Art + Design sale on September 16th started off the season with impressive results having 230 lots achieve a little over $1.3 million in sales. Fine Art led the way with $1.1 million in sales with the highlight being Andy Warhol’s complete set of ten screenprints, Cowboys and Indians, selling for $503,750. Rick Unruh, Clars CEO, remarked, “Clars is definitely ‘moving up the ladder’ in being recognized internationally as one of the premier auction houses for Modern and Contemporary works. This past auction was our 3rd complete set of Warhols to be offered in the last 2 years — all with outstanding results.”
Another stellar performance was several Pumpkin screenprints by Yayoi Kusama (Japanese, b. 1929) selling for a combined price of $108,750.
Yayoi Kusama (Japanese, b. 1929), Top left:Pumpkin (Y), Top Right:Dancing Pumpkin (YOR), Bottom Left:Napping Pumpkin, Bottom Right:Red Colored Pumpkin. Sold: $108,750
Clars Auction Gallery had a nearly 100% sell through rate for the Fall Design sale, with just above 100 lots selling for over $210,000 total.
Angelo Mangiarotti Eros Dining Table. Sold: $18,750
Clients from across the country were vying for Design lots, with many items selling at or above the high estimate. Cristina Campion, Associate Director of 20th Century Design at Clars commented, “strong sales like this one really demonstrate that Clars is a recognized name among Design collectors across the United States.”
Mario Bellini, Cab Chairs Model 413. Sold: $10,625
Top picks included an Angelo Mangiarotti ‘Eros’ Dining Table sold for $18,750, with a $6,000–$9,000 estimate. Other auction highlights include a suite of eight Mario Bellini Cab Chairs, Model 413, that brought $10,625, a set of Christian Liaigre Bazane Stools that sold for $9,375, a Charles and Ray Eames 670 and 671 chair and ottoman that realized $8,125, and a Vladimir Kagan Ondine Chair that commanded $8,125.
Christian Liaigre Bazane stools. Sold: $9,375
Clars is gearing up for it’s next Design auction on December 18th, and is hopeful that the department will continue to see an upward trajectory in sales.
Vladimir Kagan Couture Sloane II sofa. Sold: $8,125
Annie Leibovitz began her artistic career at the San Francisco Art Institute in the late 1960s, where she originally studied painting but was inspired to change her focus to photography.
Clars’ is excited to present our Fall Modern + Contemporary Art Auction on September 14th. The sale will feature artworks spanning movements and decades, with notable works for all collectors.
The star lot will be the complete portfolio of Andy Warhol’s 1986 Cowboys and Indians. The ten screenprint series portrays a range of imagery representing both historical and mythical lore of the American West. They will be offered with an estimate of $500,000–$700,000. Additional highlights will include important works by Bay Area Figurative artists including Nathan Oliveira, Raimonds Staprans and Joan Brown, as well as works by KAWS, M.F Husain, Yayoi Kusama, and Richard Pettibone.
Andy Warhol (American, 1928–1987), Cowboys and Indians (the complete set of ten screenprints), 1986, screenprints in colors, 36″ x 36″ each. Estimate: $500,000–$700,000
Nathan Oliveira (American, 1928–2010), Untitled (from the Windhover series), 1990, oil on canvas board mounted to panel, 16.5″ x 20.5″. Estimate: $12,000–$18,000
Raimonds Staprans (Latvian/American, b. 1926), Boats in Blue Water, 1963, oil on canvas, 22″ x 25″. Estimate: $12,000–$18,000
Joan Brown (American, 1938–1990), Cucumber and Lemon, 1965, oil on plywood board, 16.25″ x 15″. Estimate: $40,000–$60,000
KAWS (American, b. 1974), Four Foot Companion, 2007, black cast vinyl sculpture, 51″ x 23″. Estimate: $40,000–$60,000
Maqbool Fida Husain (Indian, 1913–2011), Untitled (Woman and Horse), 2000, acrylic on canvas, 54.5″ x 34″. Estimate: $60,000–$80,000
Yayoi Kusama (Japanese, b. 1929), Napping Pumpkin, 1993, screenprint, 20.8″ x 25.75″. Estimate: $30,000–$50,000
Richard Pettibone (American, b. 1938), Andy Warhol Double Elvis, 1968, screenprint on canvas, 8.5″ x 8.5″. Estimate: $30,000–$50,000
Gustave Baumann (American/German, 1881–1971), Rain in the Mountains (1926), 1956, woodcut in colors, 9.25″ x 11.25″. Estimate: $12,000–$18,000
Invader (French, b. 1969) Invasion Kit #11: Blue, 2009, ceramic tile mosaic, 6.25″ x 8.75″. Estimate: $10,000–$15,000
Nathan Oliveira (American, 1928–2010), Smiling Man with Green Eyes, 1961, oil and gouache on paper, 25″ x 20″. Estimate: $10,000–$15,000
Clars is excited to present our Winter Furniture, Art & Jewelry Auction on December 15th and our Fine Asian Art & European Décor Auction on December 16th.
Clars is excited to present our Fine Interiors & Design Auction on November 17th and our Art, Furniture and Asian Auction on November 18th. Both Auctions begin at 9:30 AM PST.
Clars’ October 16th Fall Fine & Rare Wines Auction will feature a vast array of rare French bordeauxes and burgundies.
Auction
Fine & Rare Wines
Fall Modern + Contemporary Art + Design Highlights
Auction
Modern + Contemporary
Clars’ upcoming Modern + Contemporary Art + Design Auction will be held Friday, September 16th, featuring an array of mid-century San Francisco Bay Area figurative works.
Andy Warhol (American, 1928–1987), Cowboys and Indians (the complete set of ten screenprints), 1986, screenprints in colors, 36″ x 36″ each. Estimate: $500,000–$700,000
Highlights include the complete portfolio of Andy Warhol’s Cowboys and Indians — one of his last major works before his death — estimated at $500,000–$700,000. In this portfolio, Warhol portrays a range of images that represent both the history and constructed lore of the American West, pulled from reality and fiction. Warhol interspersed portraits of world-famous Americans with those of anonymous Native Americans in his ironic commentary on America’s collective mythology of the historic West.
Joan Brown (American, 1938–1990), Cucumber and Lemon, 1965, oil on plywood board, 16.25″ x 15″. Estimate: $40,000–$60,000
Another exceptional highlight is an oil on panel from 1965 by Joan Brown (American, 1938–1990) titled Cucumber and Lemon estimated at $40,000–$60,000. This charming still life was gifted to fellow artist and friend, Ira Yeager (1938–2022), on his birthday.
Nathan Oliveira (American, 1928–2010), Untitled (from the Windhover series), 1991, oil on panel, 16″ x 20″. Estimate (each): $12,000–$18,000
Two later paintings by Nathan Oliveira (American, 1928–2010) from his Windhover series (commissioned by Stanford University in 1991) will be also offered at $12,000–$18,000 each.
Mario Bellini, Cab Chairs Model 413. Estimate: $10,000–$15,000
The auction will feature a fine selection of Design items including a set of Mario Bellini Cab Chairs estimated at $10,000–$15,000, an Angelo Mangiarotti Eros Dining Table estimated at $6,000–$9,000, and a Vladimir Kagan Couture Sloane II sofa estimated at $6,000–$9,000.
Angelo Mangiarotti Eros Dining Table. Estimate: $6,000–$9,000
There will be other noteworthy Designers in the auction including ceramicists such as James Lovera, Antonio Prieto and Lagardo Tackett, as well as Danish Modern including Eric Hansen, Arne Iversen, Johannes Andersen, Peter Hvidt, and American and Italian Modern such as Charles and Ray Eames, Christian Liaigre, among others.
Vladimir Kagan Couture Sloane II sofa. Estimate: $6,000–$9,000
Clars is excited to present our Winter Furniture, Art & Jewelry Auction on December 15th and our Fine Asian Art & European Décor Auction on December 16th.
Clars is excited to present our Fine Interiors & Design Auction on November 17th and our Art, Furniture and Asian Auction on November 18th. Both Auctions begin at 9:30 AM PST.
Clars’ October 16th Fall Fine & Rare Wines Auction will feature a vast array of rare French bordeauxes and burgundies.
Auction
Fine & Rare Wines
Artist Spotlight: Andy Warhol
Artist Spotlight
Modern + Contemporary
Andy Warhol’s Cowboys and Indians series was one of his last major works before his death in 1987.
Andy Warhol (American, 1928–1987), Cowboys and Indians (the complete set of ten screenprints), 1986, screenprints in colors, 36″ x 36″ each. Left: General Custer. Right: Geronimo. Sold: $503,750
In 1986, Andy Warhol created the Cowboys and Indians series. In this portfolio, Warhol portrays a range of images that represent both the history and constructed lore of the American West, pulled from reality and fiction. Warhol interspersed portraits of world-famous Americans with those of anonymous Native Americans in his ironic commentary on America’s collective mythology of the historic West.
Andy Warhol (American, 1928–1987), Cowboys and Indians (the complete set of ten screenprints), 1986, screenprints in colors, 36″ x 36″ each. Left: Mother and Child. Right: Teddy Roosevelt. Sold: $503,750
Rather than portraying Native Americans within their historical landscape, or cowboys in their veritable forms, Warhol went with a stylized and romanticized version of the American West — already a favored lens in novels, films, and various television series popular during the 20th century.
Andy Warhol (American, 1928–1987), Cowboys and Indians (the complete set of ten screenprints), 1986, screenprints in colors, 36″ x 36″ each. Left: Plains Indian Shield. Right: Northwest Coast Mask. Sold: $503,750
Included in the composition are Native Americans and their authentic emblems — a mask, Kachina dolls, and a shield — alongside John Wayne, Annie Oakley, Teddy Roosevelt and General George Custer, the latter group exemplifying Warhol’s preoccupation with stardom.
Andy Warhol (American, 1928–1987), Cowboys and Indians (the complete set of ten screenprints), 1986, screenprints in colors, 36″ x 36″ each. Left: John Wayne. Right: Annie Oakley. Sold: $503,750
At this point in his life, Warhol was forming bonds with a number of younger artists in the New York art scene including Jean-Michel Basquiat, David Salle, Keith Haring and Julian Schnabel.
Andy Warhol (American, 1928–1987), Cowboys and Indians (the complete set of ten screenprints), 1986, screenprints in colors, 36″ x 36″ each. Left: Indian Head Nickel. Right: Kachina Dolls. Sold: $503,750
Annie Leibovitz began her artistic career at the San Francisco Art Institute in the late 1960s, where she originally studied painting but was inspired to change her focus to photography.
Clars’ is excited to present our Fall Modern + Contemporary Art Auction on September 14th. The sale will feature artworks spanning movements and decades, with notable works for all collectors.
Henrietta Berk’s artistic prowess stood out as she delved into the intricacies of human emotion and intimacy during the Bay Area Figurative Movement.
Artist Spotlight
Fine Art
Artist Spotlight: Yayoi Kusama
Artist Spotlight
Modern + Contemporary
Born in 1929 in Matsumoto, Japan, Yayoi Kusama is well known for her sculptures, installations, paintings, performances and fashion. Kusama is the highest-selling living female artist and has a body of work that spans over the past 70 years.
A preeminent figure in the art world, Kusama emerged onto the art scene in the 1960s in New York, collaborating with Andy Warhol, Claes Oldenberg, and Robert Morris and contributed to the rise of feminist and pop art.
Yayoi Kusama (Japanese, b. 1939), A Pumpkin GB-D, 2004, screenprint, 9.4″h x 11.1″w. Sold: $40,625
Yayoi Kusama (Japanese, b. 1929), Grapes, 1982, screenprint, 12.4″ x 10.6″. Sold: $38,750
Yayoi Kusama (Japanese, b. 1939), Pumpkin, 1983, screenprint, 23″h x 19″w. Sold: $31,250
Throughout her work, Kusama has explored such themes as her own obsessive-compulsive disorder, hallucinations, sexuality and freedom. Various Kusama prints that were sold at Clars exhibit her signature style, featuring polka dots and nets in dense patterns with obsessive repetition.
Yayoi Kusama (Japanese, b. 1939), Pumpkin, 1983, screenprint, 23″h x 19″w. Sold: $87,500
Yayoi Kusama (Japanese, b. 1929), Top left:Pumpkin (Y), 1992, screenprint, 6.25″h x 8.75″w. Top Right:Dancing Pumpkin (YOR), 2004, screenprint, 15.5″h x 22.25″w. Bottom Left:Napping Pumpkin, 1993, screenprint, 21″h x 25.75″w. Bottom Right:Red Colored Pumpkin, 1994, screenprint, 18″h x 20.75″w. Sold: $108,750
In 1993, Kusama represented Japan at the Venice Biennale. She has been the subject of major exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art, Centre Pompidou, Tate Modern, and the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo as well as a major retrospective at the Whitney Museum of American Art in 2012. In 2017, she opened the Yoyoi Kusama Museum in Tokyo near her studio and the psychiatric hospital where she has voluntarily lived since 1977.
Yayoi Kusama (Japanese, b. 1929), High Heels, 1986, screenprint, 12.4″h x 16″w. Sold: $17,500
Yayoi Kusama (Japanese, b. 1929), Town, 1999, screenprint, 18.8″h x 23.4″w. Sold: 13,750
Left: Yayoi Kusama (Japanese, b. 1929), Pumpkin, 1982, lithograph in colors with collage, 22.75″h x 18.75w″. Sold: $21,250 Right: Yayoi Kusama (Japanese, b. 1929), Pumpkin God, 1993, screenprint, 28.75″h x 21″w. Sold: $26,250
Yayoi Kusama (Japanese, b. 1939), Flower (1), 1992, lithograph in color, 9.4″h x 11.1″w. Sold: $12,500
Annie Leibovitz began her artistic career at the San Francisco Art Institute in the late 1960s, where she originally studied painting but was inspired to change her focus to photography.
Clars’ is excited to present our Fall Modern + Contemporary Art Auction on September 14th. The sale will feature artworks spanning movements and decades, with notable works for all collectors.
Henrietta Berk’s artistic prowess stood out as she delved into the intricacies of human emotion and intimacy during the Bay Area Figurative Movement.
Artist Spotlight
Fine Art
June Modern + Contemporary Art + Design Post Sale Highlights
Modern + Contemporary
Stories & News
The June 17th Modern + Contemporary Art + Design sale at Clars totaled $1,070,250 across 239 lots.
Clars was pleased to establish the new, world auction record for Raimonds Staprans (American/Latvian, b. 1926) with the painting Blue Boats selling for $187,500. This beats the previous record held by Clars from September 2020 of $147,600. As Rick Unruh, CEO of Clars, stated, “Staprans has incredible upward momentum at auction at the moment. There is a scarcity issue with his exceptional works currently. Blue Boats was one of those exceptional works. Reaching a new price level and ‘raising the bar’ is challenging but rewarding when it occurs.”
Raimonds Staprans (American/Latvian, b. 1926), Blue Boats, 1990, oil on canvas, 44″ x 48″. Sold: $187,500
Also of note was a rare collection of four works by Leonor Fini (French/Argentine, 1908–1996) that were offered at Clars Modern + Contemporary sale on June 17th. This combined collection sold for an astounding $250,625 with one particular painting, Zorniga, selling for $187,500.
Leonor Fini (Argentine/French, 1908–1996), Zorniga, 1959, oil on canvas, 31.5″ x 10″. Sold: $187,500
Highlights for Design included a set of Mario Bellini Cab chairs that sold for $17,500, and a Phillip Lloyd Powell New Hope Chair that brought $15,000. Cristina Campion, Associate Director of 20th Century Design at Clars noted, “There’s always a strong market for good Design. We’re currently seeing bidders vying for the top lots, and as a result Clars is achieving strong auction records across the board.”
Mario Bellini, Cab Chairs Model 413, set of ten. Sold: $17,500
Phillip Lloyd Powell, New Hope Lounge Chair and Ottoman. Sold: $15,000
Annie Leibovitz began her artistic career at the San Francisco Art Institute in the late 1960s, where she originally studied painting but was inspired to change her focus to photography.
Clars’ is excited to present our Fall Modern + Contemporary Art Auction on September 14th. The sale will feature artworks spanning movements and decades, with notable works for all collectors.