Clars’ Important Holiday Fine Art Auction on December 18th presents an exceptional selection of artworks by celebrated artists working across a wide range of periods and styles.

Among the premier highlights is an oil on canvas by Bay Area favorite, Raimonds Staprans (American/Latvian, b. 1926), an artist with whom Clars has consistently achieved strong results. Staprans is renowned for his vivid palette and distinctive use of line — qualities that are fully evident in Still Life with the Ugly Hockney Vase #2. The off-white vase rests on a similarly colored surface set against a striking red ground, while delicate lines in orange, violet, and sky blue trace the object’s edges and heighten its dimensionality. Selected for the cover of the 2006 exhibition catalog for Staprans’ retrospective at the Latvian National Museum, the painting exemplifies the artist’s ability to reinvigorate traditional still-life subjects through bold color and decisive brushwork. This work is estimated at $150,000–$200,000.

Another major feature of the December sale is a mixed-media work on canvas by Los Angeles based artist Mark Bradford (American, b. 1961). Bradford’s practice is deeply informed by his upbringing in South Los Angeles and by his explorations of race, gender, and identity — as well as the influence of his mother’s hair salon — where he worked after high school. Many of his materials originate in that environment, including hair dye and the end papers used in perm treatments. The December offering, painted in soft green hues, is layered with sheets of end paper in various states of translucency, some singed to a deep brown. The staggered layers create surprising depth and texture across the surface. Bradford’s work is widely admired and held in prominent collections, and he has received national recognition, including his inclusion in Time Magazine’s 2021 list of the most influential people and the National Medal of Arts in 2023. This untitled piece carries an estimate of $20,000–$30,000.

A further highlight is a ceramic plate by Spanish modernist Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), titled Visage de Femme and dating to 1953 during his collaboration with the Madoura Pottery studio in Vallauris, France. Picasso’s ceramics remain highly desirable as accessible, yet significant examples of his contributions to twentieth-century art. This piece features the Cubist depiction of a woman’s face, rendered in white, cyan, and blue on a black ground, with a bold white line forming the nose above a slight smile and a beaded necklace. The plate is estimated at $15,000–$20,000.

These marquee offerings are joined by additional works from artists such as Granville Redmond, Wayne Thiebaud, Jules Tavernier, Maynard Dixon, Thomas Hart Benton, and many more.

Wayne Thiebaud was an American painter known for his depictions of everyday objects and scenes. While he is primarily associated with Pop Art, still lifes, and landscapes, on rare occasion he would work in portraiture.

Clars offered Thiebaud’s Portrait of Jean Lee Porter, an oil painting created in 1951/52, at our Summer Modern + Contemporary Art + Design Auction. This particular artwork is a rare example of portraiture in his oeuvre, commanding a total of $31,500.

The painting showcases Jean Lee Porter, a friend and model for Thiebaud. Thiebaud’s distinctive style is evident in this piece — characterized by his use of bold, vibrant colors and thick application of paint. He captures the sitter in a frontal pose against a neutral background, emphasizing her facial features and expression. Thiebaud’s attention to detail is notable in the rendering of Porter’s face, which exhibits a sense of realism and three-dimensionality. The painting showcases Thiebaud’s early exploration of form, light, and color. As his focus shifted towards other subjects, his output of portraits became less frequent, making these early works relatively scarce.

Thiebaud had a special ability of infusing everyday subjects and settings with vitality and personality, showcasing his skill as a painter. His unique approach to capturing the essence of his subjects through rich brushwork and intense hues makes Thiebaud’s work so exciting for artists and collectors to this day.