
Robert Arneson
Raft of the Quack Quack, 1991
glazed ceramic and concrete
27 x 20 x 19 in.
Twenty-Five Treasures 2023
Robert Arneson, Joan Brown, Fred Dalkey, Eileen David,
Roy De Forest, Richard Diebenkorn, David Fertig, John Graham,
Robert Hudson, Ed Musante, Manuel Neri, Arthur Okamura,
John Santoro, Richard Shaw, Pam Sheehan, Wayne Thiebaud,
Chris Thorson, Peter Voulkos, , Andrew Wilson, David Wilson,
Suong Yangchareon, Bambara (Bamana of Mali), Chancay Culture, Firmstrong Bikes, Inc., and Anonymous
Paul Thiebaud Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of Twenty-Five Treasures, on Saturday, July 8, 2023, from 2-5pm, with artist talks at 3pm. This signature exhibition series, originated in 1990 by gallery founder Paul LeBaron Thiebaud (1960-2010), brings together works by 25 artists and makers from a wide range of backgrounds. The 14th edition mixes together paintings, sculpture, and works on paper by 20th century masters; contemporary American artists; African, pre-Columbian, and 19th century Mexican folk art; and 21st century industrial design. The exhibition will be on view through August 19, 2023.
While not curated around a specific theme, the show unites 25 works of art and cultural objects that can be qualitatively viewed as exceptional or extraordinary. The works on view span over a thousand years of history, diverse civilizations on three continents, and give viewers the feeling of peering into the private collection of an individual.
This year’s presentation includes an expansive selection of modern masters from California. Among these are signature early paintings by Richard Diebenkorn and Wayne Thiebaud; Joan Brown’s New Year’s Eve Dance #1; a 1958 figurative watercolor by Manuel Neri; a 1990 drawing of a sailing ship in a sculptural frame by Roy De Forest; and a large abstracted Japanese rock garden painting by Arthur Okamura. Also representing the California masters are a polychrome steel sculpture by Robert Hudson; an iconic ceramic stack by Peter Voulkos; Robert Arneson’s humorous ceramic and concrete sculpture Raft of the Quack Quack; and a classic seated figure by Richard Shaw made of found objects that have been cast in porcelain before being assembled.
The exhibition will also feature the works of several artists long represented by the gallery. Among these are a cigar box painting by Ed Musante; a narrow vertical painting of San Francisco Bay by Eileen David; John Santoro’s three-part abstract painting Hong Kong Thunderstorms: Amber Rain, Red Rain, Black Rain; a masterful red conté drawing by Fred Dalkey; a moody landscape by Pam Sheehan; an evocative watercolor and gouache painting by Suong Yangchareon; and David Fertig’s large pastel After Gilbert Stuart. Making their gallery debuts are a monumental, 33-part drawing by David Wilson; Chris Thorson’s tour-de-force trompe l’oeil sculpture Boxed in (Oceano); and a large cyanotype printed quilt by Andrew Wilson. As is a trademark of this recurring show, those looking for the offbeat will discover the inclusion of a customized Firmstrong bicycle. These works will comingle with Bambara (Bamana of Mali) and Chancay Culture sculptures; a 19th century retablo painting from Mexico; and a 1937 drawing of a bull fight by the American painter John Graham, creating a dialogue not often seen in a gallery setting.
Roy De Forest
Untitled (Sails), 1990
acrylic, mixed media on paper; artist's frame
34 x 43 x 3 in. (frame)
SOLD
David Wilson
Facing the Other Way, Fall 2021
watercolor on paper
40 x 111 in. (image); 50 x 122 in. (frame)
SOLD
David Fertig
After Gilbert Stuart, 2008
pastel on paper
42 x 27 3/4 in.
John Graham
Bull Fight, 1937
ink on paper
8 1/2 x 11 in.
Richard Diebenkorn
Berkeley #9, 1953
oil on canvas mounted on canvas with paper interleaf
32 5/8 x 38 7/8 in.
Wayne Thiebaud
Berry à-la-Mode, 1961
oil on canvas
7 x 9 in.
Fred Dalkey
Ginger Jar, Oaxacan Bottle, Soy Sauce Bottle (After Motherwell), 2002
sanguine Conté crayon on paper
8 1/2 x 10 1/2 in.
Robert Arneson
Raft of the Quack Quack, 1991
glazed ceramic and concrete
27 x 20 x 19 in.
Arthur Okamura
Rock Study #3, 2008
acrylic on canvas
55 x 27 1/2 in.
Chancay Culture, Peru
Cuchimilco Female Figure, 800–1200 C.E.
ceramic, white, red, brown pigments
21 x 11 3/4 x 5 1/2 in.
John Santoro
Hong Kong Thunderstorms: Amber Rain, Red Rain, Black Rain, 2014
oil on canvas
20 x 16 in. [each panel]
Peter Voulkos
Walking Man, 1990
wood fired stoneware
28 x 20 x 16 in.
Robert Hudson
Shadow, 2016
steel, stainless steel, cast iron, found objects, acrylic, epoxy coating
29 x 20 x 19 in.
Manuel Neri
Untitled (Female Figure,) 1958
pastel, watercolor and graphite on paper
25 x 23 1/8 in.
Chris Thorson
Boxed In (Oceano), 2013
mixed media on hydrocal, acylic on paper pulp, cardboard box
14 1/4 x 19 3/4 x 15 3/8 in.
Mexican Retablo
El Nino de Atocha, 19th century
oil on tin
13 7/8 x 10 in.
Richard Shaw
Painter with a Blue Skirt, 2011
glazed porcelain with overglaze decals
17 x 12 x 15 in.
Ed Musante
Horned Lark / Curly Head 3, 2014
mixed media on cigar box
7 x 9 1/2 x 1 13/16 in.
SOLD
Bambara (Bamana of Mali)
Chi Wara (Antelope), n.d.
carved darkened wood with metal tack eyes
11 x 4 x 25 in.
Pam Sheehan
Backlit Trees, 2014
oil on wood panel
13 1/2 x 15 1/8 in. (frame)
Andrew Wilson
Muddy Water / Pot Liquor, 2015–2021
cyanotype on cotton, toned, hand quilted
77 x 51 1/2 in.
Suong Yangchareon
Echo Park Rooftops, 2023
watercolor & gouache on paper
11 x 14 in.
Eileen David
Morning / Hill View, 2009/2012
oil on canvas
30 x 10 in.
Joan Brown
New Year's Eve Dance #1, 1972
enamel paint on Masonite
72 x 48 in.
Firmstrong Bikes
Bicycle, 2000
urban bicycle with custom wood accessories
42 x 28 x 72 in.
Roy De Forest
Untitled (Sails), 1990
acrylic, mixed media on paper; artist's frame
34 x 43 x 3 in. (frame)
SOLD
David Wilson
Facing the Other Way, Fall 2021
watercolor on paper
40 x 111 in. (image); 50 x 122 in. (frame)
SOLD
John Graham
Bull Fight, 1937
ink on paper
8 1/2 x 11 in.
Richard Diebenkorn
Berkeley #9, 1953
oil on canvas mounted on canvas with paper interleaf
32 5/8 x 38 7/8 in.
Wayne Thiebaud
Berry à-la-Mode, 1961
oil on canvas
7 x 9 in.
Fred Dalkey
Ginger Jar, Oaxacan Bottle, Soy Sauce Bottle (After Motherwell), 2002
sanguine Conté crayon on paper
8 1/2 x 10 1/2 in.
Chancay Culture, Peru
Cuchimilco Female Figure, 800–1200 C.E.
ceramic, white, red, brown pigments
21 x 11 3/4 x 5 1/2 in.
John Santoro
Hong Kong Thunderstorms: Amber Rain, Red Rain, Black Rain, 2014
oil on canvas
20 x 16 in. [each panel]
Robert Hudson
Shadow, 2016
steel, stainless steel, cast iron, found objects, acrylic, epoxy coating
29 x 20 x 19 in.
Manuel Neri
Untitled (Female Figure,) 1958
pastel, watercolor and graphite on paper
25 x 23 1/8 in.
Chris Thorson
Boxed In (Oceano), 2013
mixed media on hydrocal, acylic on paper pulp, cardboard box
14 1/4 x 19 3/4 x 15 3/8 in.
Mexican Retablo
El Nino de Atocha, 19th century
oil on tin
13 7/8 x 10 in.
Richard Shaw
Painter with a Blue Skirt, 2011
glazed porcelain with overglaze decals
17 x 12 x 15 in.
Ed Musante
Horned Lark / Curly Head 3, 2014
mixed media on cigar box
7 x 9 1/2 x 1 13/16 in.
SOLD
Bambara (Bamana of Mali)
Chi Wara (Antelope), n.d.
carved darkened wood with metal tack eyes
11 x 4 x 25 in.
Andrew Wilson
Muddy Water / Pot Liquor, 2015–2021
cyanotype on cotton, toned, hand quilted
77 x 51 1/2 in.
Joan Brown
New Year's Eve Dance #1, 1972
enamel paint on Masonite
72 x 48 in.
Firmstrong Bikes
Bicycle, 2000
urban bicycle with custom wood accessories
42 x 28 x 72 in.