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Arts & Entertainment

Risk Free, Popular Art Auction Returns Sunday

The once in a decade auction is Sunday afternoon at the Bergamot Station Arts Center with a preview reception Saturday night.

If there were a Black Friday at Santa Monica Auctions, it's this Sunday.

Shoppers turned off by the frenzied, post-Thanksgiving sale can get similarly deep discounts on popular art—without the fear of pepper spray—at "The Popular Art Auction" Sunday at .

Since 1984, the Santa Monica Auctions, a boutique auction house with a smaller clientele, has put on art auctions. Typically, fine art is the mainstay of these events. Sunday’s event, which happens once every 10 years, caters to budding art collectors. It will be more of a liquidation sale of illustration, commercial art and fine art prints and posters, pin-up and sports art offered in single and bulk lots.

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“Given the times, we were inspired to present a fun, whimsical sale full of collectible, commercial art and also pin-up, provocative fare that would be accessible to beginning, adult collectors,” said Robert Berman, owner of the Santa Monica Auctions.

Between 50 and 100 people, from art collectors to dealers and the general public, are expected to bid on the spread, which will include works by renowned artists such as Olivia DeBerardinis, Richard Duardo, Jim Evans, Andy Warhol and Alberto Vargas.

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Berman said he expects that several original, French lithographic posters by some of the well-known poster illustrators and artists, including Paul Colin, will be bought at half price.

"These posters usually sell for thousands but will probably sell for hundreds at this auction," he said.

Other items that will be auctioned include: a retrospective on Richard Duardo, LA’s own Andy Warhol; a James Brown image, signed by James Brown himself; mono prints for the Jackson Browne album cover also signed by Jackson Browne, as well as a signed poster by actress Salma Hayek as the character (from the movie Frida), and famous artist, Frida Kahlo.

There will be a preview reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday.

Previews are also open now at Bergamot Station Arts Center in gallery space D5. The continually updated catalogue, along with registration and phone bidding forms, are available at The Santa Monica Auctions.

The Popular Art Auction starts at 1 p.m. Sunday at Bergamot Station Arts Center at 2525 Michigan Ave. For more information, contact The Santa Monica Auctions at (310) 315-1937.

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