Clars is excited to present our Important Summer Fine Art Sale on June 20th, commencing at 10 AM PDT. The sale is bursting with exceptional artwork from iconic creators such as Salvador Dalí, Roy Lichtenstein and Aaron Douglas.

One of the most exciting pieces in this month’s Important Summer Fine Art Sale is a never-before-sold oil on canvas painting by world-renowned Spanish Surrealist, Salvador Dalí. Over the course of the early to mid-twentieth century, Dalí established himself as perhaps the most celebrated of the Surrealist painters, famous for both his instantly recognizable visual style and for his eccentric personality and antics. The painting in this month’s sale, titled Portrait of Mrs. Luther Greene, is an oil on canvas that was commissioned by the sitter’s husband in New York City in 1942 — the year of the artist’s first retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art.

The portrait depicts the patron seated in the foreground, wrapped in a red robe. Behind her is a classic, Dalíesque desert landscape with two figures standing in the distance. An amorphous hill on the far right is dotted with buildings — resembling a forgotten ghost town — and a small boat sits beached by the shore on the far left. This exemplary piece is accompanied by the preliminary sketches done by the artist in preparation for the painting.

Another noteworthy piece in the sale is a serigraph by American Pop art pioneer, Roy Lichtenstein. Lichtenstein was one of the most prominent figures to come out of the Pop Art movement and is most known for his comic strip-inspired paintings, prints, and sculptures. The print featured in the June sale is titled Reverie and dates to 1965. Pictured is a young woman with blonde hair and a melancholy expression, holding a microphone while a speech bubble over her head reads the lyrics, “The melody haunts my reverie.” This lyric — taken from the song Stardust by Tin Pan Alley musicians Hoagy Carmichael and Mitchell Parish — was written in 1927 and popularized during the 1930s big band era. The retro feel of the imagery is characteristic of Lichtenstein’s work, as is the comic-style dot work, bold color, and thick, black lines. Reverie was created for a portfolio, titled 11 Pop Artists published by Original Editions, that included 2 other prints by the artist as well as prints by Andy Warhol, Tom Wesselman, and other major names in the Pop Art movement.

A third striking highlight in our sale is an oil on canvas painting by key Harlem Renaissance figure, Aaron Douglas. Douglas is widely known for the murals he was commissioned to paint in several high-profile locations. These locations included several Historically Black Colleges and Universities, the Harlem YMCA, and one of his most acclaimed works, Aspects of Negro Life, at the New York Public Library in Harlem. Douglas worked with writers Alain Locke and W.E.B. Du Bois, and had illustrations included in publications like Vanity Fair, the NAACP journal The Crisis, and Opportunity: A Journal of Negro Life among others. Douglas developed a distinctive, graphic style that combined the aesthetic exploration of modernism with more traditional African subject matter. He often used bold color and evocative light sources with leafy foliage and human figures in silhouette. These figures are at times depicted in an African village or tribal setting, dancing, holding spears, or traversing a jungle-like landscape.

In other instances, figures are shown in American cityscapes, holding industrial tools with skyscrapers looming in the distance, or playing brass instruments in bands. The work in our June sale shows three silhouetted human figures holding spears and chasing five bison-like animals through an abstracted environment that uses the interplay between color and light to mimic an earthly landscape while remaining nonobjective. Douglas’s approach marries the celebratory aspects of Harlem Renaissance figuration with an Orphism-inspired understanding of color theory that creates a composition in which movement and light become as intrinsic to the material as paint and canvas.

In addition to the aforementioned works, we are also pleased to offer abstract sculptures by Claire Falkenstein, a life-size bronze gown by Karen LaMonte, a suite of six bullfighting paintings by LeRoy Neiman, an abstract expressionist oil by Tancredi Parmeggiani, and much more in our Important Summer Fine Art Sale on June 20th.

The Menlo Park Historical Association in collaboration with The Museum of American Heritage brings you…

Mid-Century Modern Celebration Day
May 11th | 11AM–5PM PDT

Featuring exhibits of mid-century cars, toasters, typewriters, telephones and more. With discussions on Eichler homes by realtor Monique Anton, and George Nakashima Furniture by Deric Torres, SVP of Clars Auctions.

Frank’s Fisherman, located on San Francisco’s waterfront, was established in 1946 and began as a chandlery for the bay area’s commercial fishing fleet.

For nearly five decades, Frank’s Fisherman was a cornerstone of Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco, CA. Founded in 1946, the store transformed under the ownership of 4th generation San Franciscan brothers, Ken and Ron Brown, who purchased the store in 1977. From then on, Ken and Ron began what became a lifelong passion for researching, collecting and selling maritime antiques. With a mission of maintaining a sense of history, the brothers remained an integral part of the Wharf for 47 years, focusing on important 18th and 19th century maritime and scientific antiques.

Renowned for their expertise, the brothers were a trusted resource for museums and private collectors alike. Their recent closure in February 2024 marked the end of an era, but their legacy lives on in their remarkable collection. The store featured an unusual mix of artifacts, making Frank’s Fisherman the destination spot on Fisherman’s Wharf for collectors and travelers from around the world. Clars is honored to present a curated selection from the Frank’s Fisherman collection in The Maritime Sale on April 18th.

Highlights include an American carved eagle from New Hampshire, estimated at $4,000–$6,000; a Japanese silk and metallic thread commemorative embroidery of the U.S.S. Chattanooga, estimated at $2,500–$3,500; a waterline ship model of the Elin Maria in case, estimated at $6,000–$8,000; and a magnificent scratch-built paddle wheel steamship model of the ‘California,’ crafted by Tom Fordham (d. 2004) at a scale of ¼″ + 1′, estimated at $6,000–$8,000.

The Maritime Sale will also include a small collection of amusement park collectibles, featuring two iconic items from the legendary San Francisco’s Playland at the Beach: an elephant animatronic character supporting a globe, and a whimsical larger-than-life paper mache head of a man/boy with large ears.

Ms. Meri Jaye was a renowned, San Francisco interior designer of passenger and cargo ships, as well as the corporate headquarters for American President Lines.

Ms. Jaye, who designed up on Lombard Street in San Francisco, CA, amassed a distinguished collection with a keen eye. She had a notable array of shipping related artwork, furnishings, ship models, and other artifacts related to the projects she worked on. Many of her pieces, acquired from reputable dealers in the 1960s and 1970s, haven’t been offered for sale in over 50 years. Property from the Meri Jaye estate will be offered in both The Maritime Sale on April 18th, and our Furniture, Art, Jewelry & Asian Auction on April 19th.

Pieces to be offered this April include a rare manuscript by Admiral Horatio Nelson, exquisite ship models, half-hull models, and unique nautical furnishings — like royal tiller yokes and ships’ tables. Among the treasures from her collection, we are thrilled to present a rare and breathtaking oil on canvas painting by the English-born American artist, Edward Moran (American/British, 1829–1901). Entitled New York Bay from the Battery, painted in 1871, this masterpiece is estimated to be valued between $20,000–$40,000. Moran began his artistic journey as an apprentice to landscape painter, Paul Weber in Philadelphia. He later established himself as a prominent marine artist in the United States, studying at the Royal Academy in London and setting up studios in Paris and New York City.

Arguably, Moran’s most significant contribution lies in his series of thirteen Marine History paintings, capturing pivotal moments in American maritime history. The featured work in our April sale provides a captivating glimpse of New York City’s harbor, with its intricate composition portraying two small boats navigating turbulent waves in the foreground, amidst a backdrop of numerous ships entering the harbor.

Another notable highlight from Ms. Jaye’s collection is a portrait miniature of Marie Antoinette by Pierre De Nolhac. It was published in London by Arthur L. Humphreys in 1905 and is valued between $600–$800. Other highlights include an HMS Bellerophon stern model in case with letter fragment stating that the model was made by a sailor on duty on the Bellerophon in 1815, estimated at $4,000–$6,000; and Don Quixote, printed by Don Joaquin Ibarra, estimated at $5,000–$7,000.

Clars in collaboration with exhibited.at is honored to present the visionary inaugural auction: Artists to Watch: California. This section will lead the Spring Modern + Contemporary Art + Design Auction held on March 21st, 2 PM PDT.

Founded by former Christie’s specialist Rodania Leong, exhibited.at focuses on art, community and innovation — empowering artists, curators, and galleries with the ability to archive their rich exhibition history while providing guidance on diverse art initiatives. Together with Clars — the exceptional art appraisers and auctioneers who have over fifty years of expertise in hosting Bay Area auctions — this collaboration harnesses the expertise of both exhibited.at and Clars whilst delving into the rich history and allure of California art.

California has long been a force for artistic innovation, and this auction aims to showcase the work of ten pioneering artists based in the Golden State. A few of the artists who will be featured in this inaugural sale are Gabe Weis and Alexa Arnold.

Gabe Weiss is a mixed media and NFT artist living in the Bay Area. The self-taught artist is inspired by street art and stoic philosophy and uses a stream-of-consciousness approach to his work to explore perceptions of reality. His physical and digital works are shown internationally. This past year, his work has been exhibited at the Venice Biennale, Picasso Museum, Seattle Art Fair, and various galleries throughout Asia and the United States. Gabe is committed to sustainability in his craft. By reusing older materials found around the house, such as cereal boxes, maps, and old dictionaries to create timeless works, he hopes his work inspires others to reuse materials as part of their art practice.

Alexis Arnold is a mixed media visual artist in Oakland, CA. Her artwork has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Aspen Art Museum, Napa Valley Museum, Whatcom Museum, Beaux-Arts Mons Belgium, Atlanta Airport, Bergdorf Goodman, di Rosa, and The NY Hall of Science. Alexis’ work is included in the collections of SFMOMA, Meta, VCU, MediaMath, Costa Cruises, University of Pittsburgh, and others.

The history of art in California holds profound significance, reflecting a dynamic intersection of cultural, social, and environmental influences. As a beacon of creativity and innovation, California has been a canvas for diverse artistic movements — from the early 20th-century Bohemian enclaves to the rise of contemporary art hubs. The state’s artistic legacy truly encapsulates the spirit of experimentation and cultural diversity unique to California, its rich history nourishing the evolution of artistic expression and societal shifts, and the transformative power of the Californian landscape on the creative imagination.

With this inaugural auction, we take great pride in introducing ten esteemed artists who persistently enrich the tapestry of California art. Their work resonates with audiences and collectors worldwide, serving as pioneers in the evolution of artistic expression. We invite you to immerse yourself in this presentation, offering an opportunity to discover, connect, and support those instrumental in shaping the lasting legacy of California’s art history.

Join us in celebrating their creativity, innovation, and enduring impact! For more information or any questions, please reach out to [email protected] and [email protected].

This March we are excited to present several very special works in our Spring Modern + Contemporary Art + Design Auction.

We are privileged and honored to present a very important work by 1991 National Artist of the Philippines, Hernando Ruiz Ocampo. Ocampo stands as an iconic artist in the Philippines, being a leader of modernist painting in the country during the first half of the twentieth century. The monumental work by Ocampo in our March sale, one of only two made by the artist in this size, is titled Mga Kiti, which can be taken as a reference to either duck embryos or mosquito larvae. Dating to 1978, the scroll-like painting, done in acrylic paint on Tetoron fabric, showcases a repeating pattern of similar forms that echo human figures, the bodies of birds, lotus pods, and cellular structures.

Another featured work is a life-size ceramic kimono by American sculptor, Karen LaMonte. LaMonte is known for her sculptures of garments which appear to be draped over a human form but stand alone as if moving on their own. LaMonte works in glass, bronze, and ceramic, and the child’s kimono in our March sale is made of ceramic with a light blue celadon glaze.

Another sculpture highlight in the March sale is a bronze by Eric Goulder, titled The Woman. This figural piece depicts a nude woman seated while raising a hand to her mouth — a look of surprise on her face. The nearly life-size sculpture is formed in a highly realistic style displaying musculature and hair texture, as well as emotion and body language.

Moving on to our selection of paintings this March, we are pleased to offer two works by Bay Area Figurative Movement member, Henrietta Berk. Berk is celebrated for her emotive use of color and the strong element of movement in her painting. She often utilizes an impasto painting technique, which we see in both pieces in the March auction. One painting, titled Spanish Landscape, depicts a starkly lit town with a blazing orange sky over green fields and scattered buildings. The second piece, an untitled figurative painting, shows a young woman and man seated and talking in the grass. Speculation of this work and other similar pieces by Berk alleges that the couple is modeled after President John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

Another standout in the March auction is a large oil on canvas by Latvian-American painter, Raimonds Staprans. Staprans built a large following while practicing in San Francisco during the second half of the 20th century. He is known for bold color and painterly brushwork, often focusing on architectural landscapes and still lifes. The painting at Clars this month is a rare figural work depicting a female nude. Staprans maintains his signature bold color and audacious painting technique in his exploration of the human figure.

Also included this March are large paintings by Enrico Donati and Hunt Slonem, a work on paper and print by Bay Area artist Joan Brown, and much more.

A standout piece in our March Modern + Contemporary sale is this large acrylic on canvas painting by Los Angeles-based artist, Matt Gondek.

Gondek is known for colorful canvases with thick, bold lines depicting cartoon and comic book characters from the late 20th century, often exploding, melting, or in some way deconstructed through a darkly humorous lens.

The painting at Clars this month will look familiar to millennial collectors; the scene shows the characters from the Nickelodeon cartoon show Rugrats in a state of fragmentation. Followers of Clars will remember the Gondek painting in our November 2023 sale depicting 1990s Warner Brothers characters, Pinky and the Brain, which sold at auction for $12,600.

“How do I know when I’ve finished a painting? It’s when that element of surprise is there” (Joan Brown). This March at Clars we are proud to feature a work on paper and a print by one of the most well-loved modern artists of Bay Area origin.

Joan Brown was born in San Francisco in 1938 and continued to work in the area for her entire life, creating paintings, sculptures, and works on paper that celebrated the city of San Francisco and its surroundings. Brown began her art education at the California School of Fine Arts (now the San Francisco Art Institute) where she began working with her mentor — fellow Bay Area icon, Elmer Bischoff — who she credited with encouraging her to focus on her own creative instincts and less on academic rules.

During her prolific career, Brown evolved stylistically from abstract expressionism to folk art-inspired figurative painting and became involved in the highly influential Bay Area Figurative Movement. Brown was married for a period to a fellow member of the movement, Manuel Neri, with whom she had a son who inspired much of her work during the 1960s. Brown also taught at several California universities during the 1960s, including the California School of Fine Arts, Mills College, and UC Berkeley.

As she matured in her practiced, Brown included more symbolism in her paintings, including spiritual and New Age ideas. This interest led her to travel the world and gather inspiration from various religions and cultures — installing mosaic obelisks honoring these new influences. Brown tragically passed away while installing one of these obelisks at Sai Baba’s Eternal Heritage Museum in Puttaparthi, India. The works included in the March auction are a gouache and pencil on paper piece, titled Running at Ocean Beach, which depicts the artist jogging at the famous San Francisco seaside, and a woodcut/lithograph, titled Golden Gate, depicting the renowned bridge at sunset with a swimmer and boater in the blue bay waters.

Clars is pleased to offer one of the most extensive contemporary glass collections in Northern California as part of a prominent Bay Area estate on Thursday, March 21st in our Spring Modern + Contemporary Art + Design Auction.

The couple were tireless and passionate about the art of glass blowing, and spent over three decades acquiring important pieces. They were known nationally as top tier collectors. From this collection, Clars will be offering iconic pieces from several artists, including Dale Chihuly, Dan Dailey, Therman Statom, David Salvadore, and Joel Phillip Myers.

Clars is pleased to be offering over 70 works of art from the Collection of Allan Stone (by descent) on Thursday, March 21st in our Spring Modern + Contemporary Art + Design Auction.

From 1960 to 2020, Stone had a prominent New York City gallery that was known for showing artists such as: Wayne Thiebaud, Eva Hesse, Jack Whitten, as well as, Barnett Newman, Richard Estes, Yasuhide Kobashi, Robert Arneson, Cesar and Dorothy Grebenak among many others.