Modern + Contemporary Fine Art Highlights

  • Highlights
  • Modern + Contemporary Art

On May 15th in our Modern + Contemporary Fine Art Auction, we are thrilled to showcase an exceptional array of artwork from masters like Raimonds Staprans, Wayne Thiebaud, Joan Brown, Helen Frankenthaler, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Joan Miro, Pablo Picasso, and much more. The auction will begin at 10 AM PDT. Preview May 14th, 1–5 PM PDT.

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Raimonds Staprans (American/Latvian, b. 1926), The Mid Summer Drop-Leaf Table, 1993, oil on canvas, 48″ x 42″. Estimate: $60,000–$90,000
Raimonds Staprans (American/Latvian, b. 1926), The Mid Summer Drop-Leaf Table, 1993, oil on canvas, 48″ x 42″.
Estimate: $60,000–$90,000
Wayne Thiebaud (American, 1920–2021), <em>Dark Cake</em>, 1983, woodcut in colors on Tosa Koza paper, 15″ x 17.5″.<br><b>Estimate: $20,000–$30,000</b>
Wayne Thiebaud (American, 1920–2021), Dark Cake, 1983, woodcut in colors on Tosa Koza paper, 15″ x 17.5″.
Estimate: $20,000–$30,000
Dia al-Azzawi (Iraqi, b. 1939), Sleeping Bird, 1981, oil on canvas, 47.25″ x 39.38″ (120 x 100 cm). Estimate: $15,000–$20,000
Dia al-Azzawi (Iraqi, b. 1939), Sleeping Bird, 1981, oil on canvas, 47.25″ x 39.38″ (120 x 100 cm).
Estimate: $15,000–$20,000
Wayne Thiebaud (American, 1920–2021), <em>Hill Street</em>, 1987, woodcut in colors, 37″ x 24″.<br><b>Estimate: $15,000–$20,000</b>
Wayne Thiebaud (American, 1920–2021), Hill Street, 1987, woodcut in colors, 37″ x 24″.
Estimate: $15,000–$20,000
Ed Mell (American, b. 1942), Side Stepper, bronze sculpture with black and verdigris patina, 20″ x 20″. Estimate: $16,000–$18,000
Ed Mell (American, b. 1942), Side Stepper, bronze sculpture with black and verdigris patina, 20″ x 20″.
Estimate: $16,000–$18,000
Joan Miró (Spanish, 1893–1983), Le Grand Ordinateur, 1969, etching, aquatint and carborundum on Arches wove paper, 41.38″ x 26.88″. Estimate: $12,000–$18,000 (1 of 3 to be offered)
Joan Miró (Spanish, 1893–1983), Le Grand Ordinateur, 1969, etching, aquatint and carborundum on Arches wove paper, 41.38″ x 26.88″.
Estimate: $12,000–$18,000 (1 of 3 to be offered)
Roy Lichtenstein (American, 1923–1997), Sunrise, 1965, offset lithograph in colors, 17.25″ x 23.25″. Estimate: $10,000–$15,000
Roy Lichtenstein (American, 1923–1997), Sunrise, 1965, offset lithograph in colors, 17.25″ x 23.25″.
Estimate: $10,000–$15,000
Joan Brown (American, 1938–1990), Mary Julia #32, 1976, acrylic and graphite on paper, 36″ x 24″. Estimate: $8,000–$12,000
Joan Brown (American, 1938–1990), Mary Julia #32, 1976, acrylic and graphite on paper, 36″ x 24″.
Estimate: $8,000–$12,000
Andy Warhol (American, 1928–1987), Flowers (Hand-Colored), 1974, screenprint with hand coloring, 40.5″ x 27″. Estimate: $8,000–$12,000
Andy Warhol (American, 1928–1987), Flowers (Hand-Colored), 1974, screenprint with hand coloring, 40.5″ x 27″.
Estimate: $8,000–$12,000
Joan Brown (American, 1938–1990), <em>Mary Julia #33</em>, 1976, acrylic, charcoal, and graphite on paper, 36" x 24".<br><b>Estimate: $8,000–$12,000</b>
Joan Brown (American, 1938–1990), Mary Julia #33, 1976, acrylic, charcoal, and graphite on paper, 36″ x 24″.
Estimate: $8,000–$12,000
Hunt Slonem (American, b. 1951), Whisper, 2010, oil on canvas, 24″ x 24″. Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist; Private collection, Gary Danko, San Francisco, CA. Estimate: $7,000–$10,000
Hunt Slonem (American, b. 1951), Whisper, 2010, oil on canvas, 24″ x 24″. Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist; Private collection, Gary Danko, San Francisco, CA.
Estimate: $7,000–$10,000
Helen Frankenthaler (American, 1928–2011), <em>May 26 Backwards</em>, 1961, color lithograph on Crisbrook British handmade buff paper, 17.2″ x 14.2″.<br><b>Estimate: $6,000–$9,000</b>
Helen Frankenthaler (American, 1928–2011), May 26 Backwards, 1961, color lithograph on Crisbrook British handmade buff paper, 17.2″ x 14.2″.
Estimate: $6,000–$9,000
Louise Nevelson (American, 1899–1988), Full Moon, 1980, black cast polyester resin multiple, 18.5″ x 18.5″ x 2″. Estimate: $6,000–$9,000
Louise Nevelson (American, 1899–1988), Full Moon, 1980, black cast polyester resin multiple, 18.5″ x 18.5″ x 2″.
Estimate: $6,000–$9,000
Hunt Slonem (American, b. 1951), Billie, 2006, oil on canvas, 18″ x 24″. Provenance: Heriard-Cimino Gallery, New Orleans, LA; Private collection, Gary Danko, San Francisco, CA.Estimate: $6,000–$9,000
Hunt Slonem (American, b. 1951), Billie, 2006, oil on canvas, 18″ x 24″. Provenance: Heriard-Cimino Gallery, New Orleans, LA; Private collection, Gary Danko, San Francisco, CA.
Estimate: $6,000–$9,000
Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973), Chouette aux Taches, 1951, white earthenware ceramic vase with colored engobe and glaze, 11.75″ x 8.5″ x 5.5″. Estimate: $6,000–$9,000
Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973), Chouette aux Tâches, 1951, white earthenware ceramic vase with colored engobe and glaze, 11.75″ x 8.5″ x 5.5″.
Estimate: $6,000–$9,000
Christopher Brown (American, b. 1951), Fire in the Woods, 1984, oil on canvas, 72″ x 96″. Estimate: $5,000–$7,000
Christopher Brown (American, b. 1951), Fire in the Woods, 1984, oil on canvas, 72″ x 96″.
Estimate: $5,000–$7,000
Bidding for Clars’ May auctions is available by phone, absentee bid, live online at Live.Clars.com and through Liveauctioneers.com and Invaluable.com. Clars Auctions is located at 5644 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609.

Clars Auctions is based in Oakland (CA) and is the largest full-service auction gallery in the Western United States. Clars Auctions has been the chosen auction gallery of a number of institutions and distinguished private collectors across the country, including the Richard Mellon Scaife Estate, the Thomas J. Perkins Estate and The Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC).

In the last 5 years, Clars Auctions has sold well over $500,000,000 of Fine Art, Furnishings, Jewelry, Vehicles and Collectibles and has set multiple new world auction records. Follow Clars on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!

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Important Fine Art Highlights

On September 18th, Clars Auctions is pleased to present a special selection of outstanding fine art that will appeal to each and every collector.

  • Fine Art
  • Highlights

August Auction Highlights

Our August 15th auction presents a thoughtfully curated selection of fine furniture, decorative arts, ethnographic works, fine art, and jewelry.

  • Auction
  • Highlights

Stunning Diamonds on the Auction Block

The August 15th Fine Jewelry & Watches Auction will include a strong selection, offering a range of diamond, colored gemstone, and gold jewelry.

  • Fine Jewelry & Watches
  • Highlights

Modern Design: Visionaries of the 20th Century

Clars will offer a strong lineup of Modern Design in our July 18th auction. Highlights include pieces by Philip and Kelvin Laverne, Robert Mallet-Stevens, and James Mont.

  • Design
  • Highlights

Mexican Fine Art Highlights

Clars is pleased to offer an assorted collection of paintings and prints by renowned Mexican artists at our July 18th auction.

  • Fine Art
  • Highlights

Fine Furniture: July Highlights

Clars will offer a strong lineup of fine traditional pieces and feature esteemed makers like William Moorcroft and Augustin Heyne in our July 18th Auction.

  • Furniture & Decorative Arts
  • Highlights

Artist Spotlight: Roy Lichtenstein

  • Artist Spotlight
  • Modern + Contemporary

A noteworthy piece in our Important Summer Fine Art 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.


Roy Lichtenstein (American, 1923–1997), Reverie, from 11 Pop Artists, Volume II, 1965, screenprint in colors, 27″ x 23″.
Roy Lichtenstein (American, 1923–1997), Reverie, from 11 Pop Artists, Volume II, 1965, screenprint in colors, 27″ x 23″.
Estimate: $70,000–$100,000

In addition to the aforementioned work, 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.

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Artist Spotlight: Joan Brown

For fans of the Bay Area Figurative Movement, we are highlighting two works on paper by celebrated multimedia artist Joan Brown this May.

  • Artist Spotlight
  • Modern + Contemporary Art

Artist Spotlight: Dia Al-Azzawi

Al-Azzawi studied art in Baghdad, taking inspiration from ancient Middle Eastern mythology as well as Islam and Arabic culture.

  • Artist Spotlight
  • Modern + Contemporary Art

Artist Spotlight: Raimonds Staprans

This May 15th, Clars is excited to offer an outstanding oil on canvas painting by artist Raimonds Staprans.

  • Artist Spotlight
  • Modern + Contemporary Art

Artist Spotlight: Marion Kavanaugh Wachtel

Marion Kavanaugh Wachtel beautifully captures the vibrant transformation of the leaves in the foothills of California.

  • Artist Spotlight
  • Fine Art

Artist Spotlight: Andy Warhol

In our upcoming February 20th auction, an exciting work by Andy Warhol blends art with political activism.

  • Artist Spotlight
  • Modern + Contemporary Art

Artist Spotlight: John Alexander

Alexander infuses his paintings with surrealist elements, such as skeletons in formal wear and masked figures.

  • Artist Spotlight
  • Modern + Contemporary Art