CLEVELAND, OH.- On April 12th, many prominent artists will be featured during Gray’s Spring auction, including Julian Stanczak, Victor Vasarely and William Fredrich Ritschel. The auction also includes a collection of Tiffany style leaded glass door panels, sterling silver, a fine late 15th century tapestry, and a marvelous collection of furniture including several pieces by Dunbar.

The auction opens with an early work from 1955 by Julian Stanczak (1928-2017). This painting is untitled, mixed media on masonite, and is painted with a muted complimentary palette. The subliminal influence of Josef Albers, Stanczak’s teacher at Yale, can be seen in this paintings geometric structures and logical, chromatic combinations of color. Stanczak was born in Poland and moved to the US settling in Ohio in 1950. In 2007, Stanczak was interviewed by Brian Sherwin for Myartspace. During the interview, Stanczak recalled his experiences with war and the loss of his right arm, in a Siberian labor camp, and how both influenced his art. Stanczak explained, “The transition from using my left hand as my right, main hand, was very difficult. My youthful experiences with the atrocities of the Second World War are with me, - but I wanted to forget them wand live a “normal” life and adapt into society more fully. In the search for Art, you have to separate what is emotional and what is logical. I did not want to be bombarded daily by the past, - I looked for anonymity of actions through non-referential, abstract art.”

Lot 20 is an Ashcan School, oil on canvas depicting the bustling city life of early twentieth century New York City. The scene depicts a man offering a look at the planet Venus through his telescope to the passers-by with New York’s iconic flat-iron building at the confluence of 5th Avenue and Broadway in the background.

The catalogue continues with a visually intriguing piece by Victor Vasarely. Lot 2 is a Perspex & serigraph sculpture, signed and numbered from 1988, titled Moire Tower. A different design is created every time you move around the piece.

Alexander Liberman’s acrylic on canvas is lot 4. Entitled Open Triad VIII, this painting is a vibrant abstract from 1973. Other notable paintings in the auction include lot 19, is a serene river-scape by William Frederick Ritschel. The complimentary analogous hues of this gouache on paper, titled Moonlit Harbor with Windmill, the analogous hues of the painting capturing the stillness and luminescence of the moonlight bathing the windmill and the river’s calm waters.

Lot 195 is a late 15th/early 16th century, Franco-Flemish gothic biblical tapestry fragment which portrays David, the shepherd boy who became King of Israel. In this fragment David is surrounded by courtly figures wearing lavish robes, and a shield-form cartouche shows David slaying a lion.

Textiles in the auction also include lot 136 a beautifully embroidered Chinese Chi’Fu from the Qing Dynasty. Nine gilt dragons chase flaming pearls around the front and back panels on an indigo background. This formal court robe also contains bats and Buddhist emblems with an embroidered Lishui stripe on the bottom hem, along with richly embroidered cuffs and collar.

Silver lots featured in the auction include lot 84, a sterling silver coffee and tea service from Tiffany & Company. This seven piece set in excellent condition is marked Tiffany on the bottom and is monogrammed A.H.N. Lots 180 - 183, are early twentieth century Tiffany style stained glass doors and windows featuring decorative flower and plant designs. Lot 183 is a set of four Tiffany style stained glass interior door panels with a delightful wisteria pattern.

Lot 87 is a Donald Colflesh designed, sterling silver and ebony pitcher and trays made by Gorham. There are three stylish, sterling and laminated circular trays and a 3 pint pitcher, with model number 1460. Several other collections of sterling silver flatware, serving and decorative items are also featured in this auction.

Rounding out Gray’s spring auction is a collection of Dunbar furniture. Lots 260 - 265 showcase the style and elegance of Edward Wormley’s design skills utilizing walnut and rosewood.

Gray’s is open for in-person preview April 6-11; Monday – Friday 10am – 5pm, Saturday 12noon – 4pm. The auction starts at 11am EST on Wednesday, April 12 with live bidding provided by GraysAuctioneers.com.