Contemporary Art from Estate of Revered Dealer Dorothy Blau in W. Palm Beach auction, March 30

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - March 25, 2015 - PRLog -- Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches Inc. (AGOPB) will conduct its March Estates Auction on Monday, March 30, starting at 6 p.m. Eastern Time at their gallery facilities in West Palm Beach. All forms of bidding will be available, including absentee and live via the Internet.

Featured in the auction is the Estate of Dorothy Berenson Blau, the longtime Miami contemporary art dealer who, from the 1950s onward, was a driving force in the development of the South Florida art scene. Ms. Blau was instrumental in the careers of many artists through the decades. She opened her first gallery in 1953, and after opening a gallery with the Burdine family – of the Burdine’s department stores in Coconut Grove – she went on to establish an iconic main art gallery in Bay Harbor Islands and a later, associated gallery in Boca Raton. The auction will contain more than 325 lots featuring a fine selection of fine art and antiques from South Florida and the Palm Beaches.

Andy Warhol credited Dorothy Blau as being critical to his international rise to fame and subsequent stature as one of the premier artists of the 20th century. He painted Blau’s portrait on two occasions during her life, which is something he never did for any other person. Dorothy was also instrumental to the successes of Keith Haring, John CRASH Matos, and the husband-and-wife team of Cristo and Jeanne Claude. The rest of her stable of more than 50 internationally known artists included Robert Indiana, Larry Rivers, Alex Katz, Jim Dine, Roy Lichtenstein, Ernest Trova, Jean Dubuffet and a host of others, many of whom were her personal friends.

Highlights from Blau’s contemporary art collection include Lot 35, Three Brillo Boxes, circa 1980, one of which was signed by Andy Warhol; and Lot 205 a foam, cord, and paint assemblage by English abstract artist John Chamberlain. Lot 59, an ink painting by John “Crash” Matos, is dedicated to Dorothy. Keith Haring was a good friend of Blau’s. Two noteworthy Haring works in the auction are Lot 39, an etching from an edition of 20; and Lot 203, an unusual screenprint-on-glass night light. Lot 2 is a circa-1991, 22-piece set of Haring-designed porcelain from Villeroy & Boch. Additionally there are sculptural works by Gloria Kisch, William Dickey, and Lynton Wells. The art was displayed in Blau’s Collins Avenue (Miami) oceanfront apartment for years.

A beautiful selection of fine art includes Lot 176, an oil-on-canvas by French impressionist Gustave Loiseau (1865-1935) of  "Le Quai Saint-Martin, Auxerre," measuring 20 by 24 inches. The painting is in the artist’s catalogue raisonne and comes with impeccable provenance. Its presale estimate is $30,000-$40,000.

Lot 229 is a circa-1958 Pablo Picasso crayon drawing consigned with full provenance and a photo certificate signed by artist. It is estimated at $100,000-$150,000. Both of these works are consigned from the property of Jacqueline Goldman of Palm Beach/Paris. Lot 248 is an oil-on-canvas of a grand Parisian boulevard, by Edouard Cortes. Lot 228 is an acrylic-on-canvas painting by Peter Max titled “Angel with Heart” and comes with a certificate of authenticity. This varied selection of fine art should appeal to many tastes and styles.

This sale will also feature fine Chinese jade and cloisonne pieces, a collection of Ming blue and white porcelains, a rare Sino-Tibetan “Makahala” Buddha, American 18th century furniture, European porcelains, bronzes, and clocks; Italian 18th century furniture and much more.

The Monday, March 30 auction will begin at 6 p.m. Eastern Time. All forms of bidding will be available, including live via the Internet through LiveAuctioneers. To view the fully illustrated catalog, visit www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

The gallery is located at 1609 South Dixie Highway, Suite 5, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401. Preview all items at the gallery daily from 10 to 5 p.m.

For additional information, call 561-805-7115 or email AGOPB company partners Leslie Baker at leslie@agopb.com (mailto:baker44@gmail.com) or Brian Kogan at brian@agopb.com.