LOS ANGELES, CA.- Having been a California business for over 50 years, John Moran Auctioneers is an expert in the coveted California aesthetic. On Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at 10:00am PST, they will present their carefully curated California Living sale. Featuring over 280 lots, this auction offers a wide selection of oil paintings, watercolors, prints, photography, sculptures, silver, ceramics, and home furnishings.

For fine art, Moran’s is pleased to feature more work from Tarmo Pasto (1906-1986, California), who recently achieved a world-auction record at their Summer Modern & Contemporary Art sale in September. The Sacramento and Bay Area artist known for his modernist-leaning landscapes, Pasto’s Horse at the Inlet, 1973 and his work, Cactus Country will be available with estimates ranging $1,000-2,500.

This sale will also include work from past Disney artists. Beginning his career as an influential painter in the California Regionalist tradition, Charles Payzant (1898-1980, Newport Beach, CA) began working for Walt Disney Studios in the 1930s doing watercolor backgrounds. He later worked on the artistic programs, specifically background and landscape scenes, for many well-known Disney movies of the time such as Fantasia, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Bambi, The Three Caballeros, and Dumbo. While the economic environment of the Great Depression stifled the art scene in many areas of the United States, the opportunity in California to continue stylistic development through work in Hollywood resulted in the overall progress of the California Watercolor School. Payzant’s work, Nocturnal Western Street Scene will be offered in this sale with an estimate of $2,000-3,000.

Another watercolor artist and Disney alum is Art Riley (1911-1998, Monterey, CA). Riley settled in the Los Angeles area in the early 1930s and soon started his employment at Walt Disney Studios. For around thirty years, he produced artwork for animated feature films including background watercolors for Cinderella, Pinocchio, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. On the block with a $2,000-3,000 estimate is an example of Riley’s mixed media work titled, New Born.

Along with impressive fine art, this auction will feature some noteworthy decorative art, such as a set of Frank Gehry “Cross Check” chairs. Recognized for his architectural work, including the Disney Hall in Los Angeles, Frank Gehry (b. 1929, Toronto, Canada) was known to push boundaries and question the limitations of architecture. He designed this bentwood furniture collection for Knoll in the early 1990s, inspired by the strength of the apple crates he played on as a child. The ribbon-like designs transcend the conventions of style by exploring, as the great modernists did, the essential challenge of deriving form from function. This 4-piece, bent-laminated maple chairs come with an estimate of $800-1,200.

Adding to the stylish seating variety is a mid-century outdoor patio set designed by John Caldwell for Brown Jordan. The 1956 design is comprised of subtly space-age, mottled matte-black, tubular aluminum frame with woven, steel-blue, rubber strapping. The Mai Tai design was one of the first furniture lines to incorporate extruded aluminum and vinyl lacing. This group of three chairs and table is estimated $600-900.

While relaxing in a Mai Tai chair, you could be listening to the sweet percussion sounds from a handcrafted Paolo Soleri (1919-2013, Italy) bronze ribbed wind chime, estimated $1,000-1,500. This Soleri piece is one of four offered in this sale, made using handcrafted techniques and traditional designs from the Cosanti studio in Arizona. For over 65 years, their work has featured vibrant colors, organic textures, and unique design motifs complementing both indoor and outdoor spaces.

Representing the pottery in the sale is a charger and vase by Edwardo Vega (B. 1938, Equador). Vega is one of Ecuador’s most famous ceramicists and muralists and renowned in all Latin America. He produces hand-made beautiful and colorful decorative utilitarian art pieces. From tiny tiles to dish sets to murals, Vega’s creations are exclusive pieces of art. This set, designed with bold colors and modern design, is valued $800-1,200.

Also featured in this auction is fine art from artists such as Arthur Sheppard, Tom Rierden, Ben Abril, Sam Hyde Harris, Charles L. A. Smith, George K. Brandriff, Frederick Schafer, Angel Espoy, and Pablo Picasso. There will be mid-century cocktail tables from Vladimir Kagan, items from Tiffany & Co., sculptures by Warren Bakley and Julie Hawthorn, as well as a couple lots of Charles and Ray Eames chairs.