Gray's is honored to represent the estate of Bill Radawec (1952 – 2011), a nationally renowned Cleveland artist, curator and collector. The auction on September 28 consists of Bill's own work, works of art collected through his relationships with other artists together with artwork from the collections of other notable collectors. Up for auction are many of the works exhibited at Shaheen Modern and Contemporary's “Bill Radawec Retrospective” exhibit in November 2011. "The show was a fitting introduction, and tribute, to an artist known for having an odd, quirky and eccentric sensibility, liberally spiced with a well-developed sense of whimsy." (Steven Litt, Plain Dealer 11.20.11).

The works reveal the quality, dedication and passion of Bill's artistic journey. His ‘Out of the Blue’ series are paintings of jet contrails against the bright blue of the September 11, 2001 sky. These were inspired by the arcs of jetliners changing course after the terrorists took control.  Some of the artworks are autobiographical like his Crack-up Series (mixed media on paper) which recreates the cracks Radawec found in his apartment after the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Other series include 'A Study, Diorama', a series of HO scale environments in which the viewer happens upon a diminutive, often humorous narrative, and his ‘Color Chip’ series, geometric paintings inspired by the colors and names of the commercial paint industry.

Radawec ‘was a conceptual artist, motivated more by ideas than by a drive to fashion imposing objects. His work pulls you in close and asks you to attend to fine details, like a comedian with a flat affect who tells short, droll stories with enigmatic punch lines.’ (Steven Litt, Plain Dealer 11.20.11).  Radawec was also a curator, gallery owner and a prodigious collector of his contemporaries’ work. Many of these conceptual pieces are included in this auction including lot 54 Karen Kilimnik’s eerily timeless installation - Bang You’re Dead, Gun with Flag and Streamers from 1991. This lot also includes two handwritten letters to Bill from the reclusive artist. Lot 94 is Jenny Holzer (b.1951) Inflammatory Essays. Bill also included photography and Lot 73 is Kathé in Berlin, a black and white photograph on Kodak paper by Nan Goldin (b.1953). Lot 71 is Laurie Simmons (b.1949), ironic Cibachrome print on Kodak paper Tourism: Bikini Atol 1984.

Together with many artworks from the Radawec collection Gray’s September auction includes artworks from several modern masters. The auction opens with six striking works by William Sommer (1867-1949), five of which were included in his memorial exhibit, including lot 5, Ornamatique, a pastoral watercolor against an industrial backdrop, and lot 6, Portrait of Tess, a singularly poignant portrait of the child he painted throughout her childhood. Lot 28 is Ellsworth Kelly’s (b.1923) Orange with Blue silkscreen from 1964/5. Lot 9 is Pablo Picasso’s (1881 – 1973) etching Peintre et Modele qui se Cache le Visage on BFK Rives paper from 19 September, 1968. Lot 143 is Sam Gilliam’s (b.1933) Flowers # 2, from the Tulip series, 1989 - a dynamic collage with woodblock printing, painting, encaustic on handmade paper and marble construction in wood frames.

With too many names to mention the auction, as curated by auctioneer Deba Jean Gray, is a fascinating insight into the art of modern collecting. Sometimes bucking short term trends, and other times being uncannily on point, the collections represented here allow even the casual observer a glimpse of America’s artistic dynamic throughout the twentieth century. Treasures abound throughout the auction and the catalogue reads like a modern Who’s Who in American Art. This auction surely cements Bill Radawec’s place in the pantheon of America’s twentieth century artists.

The auction will take place on September 28 at 11am at Gray’s auction showrooms in Cleveland, Ohio.  The exhibition for the auction will be open September 22 - 28. The catalogue is now online at GraysAuctioneers.com.

A boutique company with auctioneers licensed by the State of Ohio, Gray's holds live auctions every month which reach the world through our website and our global online partnerships. We accept consignments and offer complimentary auction valuations every day. Our certified appraisers also provide USPAP compliant appraisals for insurance, donation or estate tax purposes. For more information and images please contact Serena Harragin at 216.226.3300

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