Clars – Modern + Contemporary Fine Art Auction
May 15th-May 17th 10 AM PDT
www.clars.com
5644 Telegraph Ave. Oakland, CA 94609

OAKLAND, CALIF. — Clars will present a compelling Modern and contemporary art auction on May 15 at 1 pm. The sale features an outstanding lineup of works by prominent American and international artists, with a particular focus on postwar California painting, Bay Area figurative artists, and globally recognized voices in contemporary art. Anchored by important pieces from Raimonds Staprans, Joan Brown and Dia Al-Azzawi, this diverse auction promises to captivate collectors seeking both historical significance and market momentum.

A key highlight of the auction is “The Mid Summer Drop-Leaf Table,” an exceptional oil on canvas by Latvian-American artist Raimonds Staprans (b 1926), estimated at $60/90,000. After immigrating to the United States and settling in the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1950s, Staprans quickly became a central figure in the regional postwar art scene. His work is known for its luminous color palettes, spatial abstraction and a minimal yet psychologically charged treatment of familiar objects. In this painting, Staprans presents a spare interior scene centered on a drop-leaf table drenched in the golden light of summer. With bold fields of orange and white, the composition evokes both warmth and quiet tension. A single peeled apple rests atop the table, casting a soft shadow across the surface, while the angled legs and open leaf reflect Staprans’ signature manipulation of perspective and form. “The Mid Summer Drop-Leaf Table” stands as a celebration of Staprans’ mature visual language — rich in atmosphere, subtle emotion and refined technical mastery.

Clars is also offering two important works on paper by Joan Brown (American, 1938-1990), one of the most celebrated figures of the Bay Area Figurative movement. A native and lifelong resident of San Francisco, Brown was known for her emotionally direct, often autobiographical paintings rendered in a distinctive faux-naïf style.

Featured in this auction are “Mary Julia #32” and “Mary Julia #33,” each estimated at $8/12,000. These works are part of a series inspired by her longtime friend and muse Mary Julia Klimenko. In “Mary Julia #32,” the subject appears in a white wedding gown and medieval-style veil, seated in a sparse, chapel-like space that evokes themes of solitude and reflection. In contrast,” Mary Julia #33” presents the same figure in a green military-style uniform, surrounded by enigmatic symbols that speak to identity and transformation.

International voices are also featured in this sale, including a striking painting by Iraqi artist Dia Al-Azzawi (b 1939), one of the most influential pioneers of modern Arab art. His work, “Sleeping Bird,” ($15/20,000), is a powerful oil on canvas that blends Cubist-inspired abstraction with cultural and historical symbolism.

The auction also includes a diverse selection of significant works from postwar and contemporary icons. Among these is Wayne Thiebaud’s “Dark Cake” (1983), a color woodcut published by Crown Point Press in San Francisco, signed and numbered artist proof “14/20.” Thiebaud’s print captures his iconic dessert subject matter in bold, tactile layers of ink. Another standout is Ed Mell’s bronze sculpture “Side Stepper,” a sharp-edged form with black and verdigris patina that reflects the artist’s Modernist take on Western imagery. Collectors will also find prints by Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol, a ceramic vase by Pablo Picasso and additional works by Louise Nevelson, Hunt Slonem, Joan Miró and others,

On May 16, Clars will present a furniture, art, jewelry and Asian art auction, featuring a selection of pieces that span cultures, eras and collecting categories. Leading the sale is an eclectic mix of furniture and decorative objects. Highlights include a striking pair of Neoclassical gilt bronze-mounted Chinese porcelain covered urns ($1,8/2,500).

Another standout is a rare bas relief carved wood plaque by Filipino sculptor Graciano T. Nepomuceno (1881-1974) ($400/600), a significant piece reflecting early Twentieth Century Philippine artistry. Fashion-forward collectors will also find a collection of luxury handbags and shoes from top-tier designers such as Gucci, Burberry, Prada, Alexander McQueen and Saint Laurent, with estimates ranging from $300 to $1,000. Additionally, a visually striking feather mosaic dance ornament from the Aymara people ($500/700) will be featured. Rounding out this section is a selection of antique furniture, decorative arts and modern design, including pieces such as an Arthur Espenet Carpenter double music stand and a variety of European and Asian sterling silver, porcelain and glass.

Clars will present a selection of jewelry and watches, showcasing a unique array of pieces from everyday wearables to bold statement works. Highlights include a diamond, tsavorite garnet and 18K white gold necklace ($7/10,000), paired with diamond and tsavorite garnet earrings ($1/2,000) and a matching diamond, tsavorite garnet and 18K white gold brooch ($800-$1,200).

Clars’ Asian art department will offer a rich and varied collection that celebrates the artistry and cultural legacy of East and Southeast Asia. Highlights include a Chinese huanghuali altar table ($20/30,000) and an Eighteenth/Nineteenth Century robin’s-egg glazed vase ($2/4,000), noted for its soft, speckled glaze typical of Qing porcelain.

On Saturday, May 17, Clars will host its Warehouse Sale, offering a diverse selection of items at accessible price points. This sale will feature an eclectic mix of art, prints, photographs, modern and antique furniture, silver, porcelain, glass, fashion, and decorative objects.

Previews are May 14, 1 to 5 pm, and May 16-17, 9 am to 5 pm.

Clars Auction Gallery is at 5644 Telegraph Avenue. For information www.clars.com or 510-428-0100.

Previews
May 14th | 1-5 PM PDT
May 15th | 9 AM-5 PM PDT
May 16th | 9 AM-5 PM PDT
May 17th | 9 AM-5 PM PDT
1. Joan Brown, Mary Julia #32,1976, acrylic and graphite on paper, 36″ x 24″ 2. Joan Miro, Le Grand Ordinateur, 1969, etching, aquatint and carborundum on Arches wove paper, 41.38″ x 26.88″. 3. Dia al-Azzawi, Sleeping Bird, 1981, oil on canvas, 47.25″ x 39.38″. 4. Pablo Picasso, Chouette aux Taches, 1951, white earthenware ceramic vase with colored engobe and glaze, 11.75″ x 8.5″ x 5.5″. 5. Roy Lichtenstein, Sunrise, 1965, offset lithograph in colors, 17.25″ x 23.25″. 6. Louise Nevelson, Full Moon, 1980, black cast polyester resin multiple, 18.5″ x 18.5″ x 2″. 7. Andy Warhol, Flowers (Hand-Colored), 1974, screenprint with hand coloring, 40.5″ x 27″. 8. Raimonds Staprans, The Mid Summer Drop-Leaf Table, 1993, oil on canvas, 48″ x 42″. 9. Ed Mell, Side Stepper, bronze sculpture with black and verdigris patina, 20″ x 20″. 10. Hunt Slonem, Whisper, 2010, oil on canvas, 24″ x 24″.

1. Wayne Thiebaud, Dark Cake, 1983, woodcut in colors on Tosa Koza paper, 15″ x 17.5″. 2. A pair of Neoclassical gilt bronze mounted Chinese porcelain covered urns. 3. Helen Frankenthaler, May 26 Backwards, 1961, color lithograph on Crisbrook British handmade buff paper, 17.2″ x 14.2″. 4. Wayne Thiebaud, Hill Street, 1987, woodcut in colors, 37″ x 24″. 5. A Chinese robin’s egg glazed vase. 6. A diamond, tsavorite garnet and 18k white gold brooch. 7. An album of woodblock prints of the Gengzhi Tu (Rice Cultivation and Scenes from Daily Life). 8. A pair of diamond, tsavorite garnet and 18k white gold earrings. 9. A diamond, tsavorite garnet and 18k white gold necklace. 10. A Chinese huanghuali altar table. 11. An Arthur Espenet Carpenter double music stand, circa 1968.12. An Aymara People feather mosaic dance ornament.

Clars Auctions | 5644 Telegraph Ave. Oakland, CA 94609
www.clars.com | 888 339 7600 (toll free) | 510 428 0100 (local) | info@clars.com