To kick off Black History Month, Clarke Auction’s upcoming sale will feature a generous selection of art by African American Artists on Super Bowl Sunday.

                Of the featured African American artists, the most interesting may be Keith Duncan.  Duncan is known for his visual expression of important social and political issues in the United States. By utilizing a variety of mediums, from paintings to mixed media collages, he continues his artistic dialogue with the audience through both honest expression and contemporary satire.  The socio-political aspect of Duncan’s work can barely be defined without hyphenation, but the sometimes poetic, sometimes jarring, visual experience of Duncan’s paintings is always interesting.  Clarke is offering over 50 works by the artist to be sold in group lots of three or more works in each lot.

                Another popular African American artist, Daniel LaRue Johnson, will also be featured in the February 3rd sale.  Clarke Auction has offered several works by Johnson in previous sales with highly successful results.  The current selection by Johnson includes two expansive and colorful abstract oils on canvas. The oversized works are both simple and stunning, and exemplify the quality of artistic ability for which Johnson is so highly regarded. Each work is signed and dated verso and have already seen considerable interest leading up to the sale.

Also in the American abstract selection, the prolific Paul Jenkins will be featured on February 3rd at Clarke.  Jenkins is widely considered as the primary influence for the invention of Post War American abstraction, and the value of his work has been both represented historically and fiscally.  The current selection by Jenkins is a particularly special piece, a 1967/68 acrylic on canvas entitled “Phenomena Arabic Call.” It is signed and inscribed verso with a Martha Jackson gallery label affixed to the stretcher.

The mysticism of Eastern spiritual teachings and the inner workings of Jungian philosophy that influenced Jenkins as a man are also evident in this emotionally revealing abstraction.  Something simultaneously profound and mysterious is portrayed in this piece, which may be why the appeal of this piece has become so electric.

                Continuing in the American artist selection, a collection of prints and group of 15 original works by the American Artist Group will be offered on February 3rd at Clarke Auction. The original works are of the AAG Christmas card series. The groupings will be offered in multiple lots.

Another very important painting of note is the 1881 Yosemite scene entitled “Mountain Cascade” by acclaimed American artist, Thomas Hill. The work by Hill exemplifies the influence of the American landscape in the late 19th century.  

                Also featured in the sale is a Robert Kulicke still life, a watercolor by Malcolm Edgar Case, a Richard Anuszkiewicz pastel, 3 works by contemporary Pittsburgh artist Michael Lotenero, and a Peter Max and Anthony Quinn.

                In the Fine Print selection, a Miro lithograph will be offered, as well as 3 Bernard Buffet lithographs, 3 Icarts including drypoint and aquatints entitled “Youth,” “Joy of Life,” and “Casanova.”

                More examples of Fine Art to be offered include a work by French female artist Valentine Prax, and American female artist Alice De Haas. The De Haas oil on board is a comforting and serene scene entitled “A Summer Morning.” Also, a British pencil study of a beauty by Edward Burne-Jones may prove to be an important precursor to a larger and more influential work.  

                The Old Masters selection at Clarke Auction also shows the depth and strength of offering outside of Christie’s and Sotheby’s for New York’s Old Masters Week.  Clarke offers multiple Old Masters works including oil on canvas of the “Capture of Christ”, 2 works After Rembrandt including self portrait oil, an etching entitled “Angel Departing from the Family of Tobias.”  There will also be 7 Old Masters engravings provided in the sale.

                The aforementioned Fine Art selections barely scratch the surface of the total lots to be auctioned on February 3rd at Clarke.  There are also many examples of decorative fine art, from a bronze by Sir Jacob Epstein of Ellen Jansen, and 3 lots of Pucinelli bronze busts. Other bronzes include a gilded bronze plaque, several candelabras, and several figural bronzes.

For the entire catalog, please visit the website www.ClarkeNY.com or come into the gallery for public previews on Friday February 1st and Saturday February 2nd from 12pm to 6pm. There will be additional previews on Sunday, February 3rd (day of sale) from 10am to 12pm (start of sale). Also view the Clarke Auction February 3rd Preview to learn about the massive selection of decorative art, lighting, Asian, furniture, and midcentury  in the upcoming sale.