Raimonds Staprans Original Vintage SF Bay Area California Abstract Expressionist American Art Oil Painting Sausalito
Original vintage San Francisco Bay Area Figurative oil on canvas painting by Raimonds Staprans. The painting is dated '55 under the artist's signature and is a striking figurative painting of a floating home houseboat in Sausalito at sunset. An early painting by the artist, this type of architectural work with remarkable color and shadow. is reminiscent of Edward Hopper's work.
Raimonds Staprans (Latvian: Raimonds Staprāns; born 1926) is a Latvian-American artist and playwright recognized for his evocative still lifes, landscapes, and dramatic works. Known for his distinct approach to color and light, Staprans has left a significant mark on both American and Latvian art and theater.
Born in Riga, Latvia, in 1926, Staprans survived the occupation of Latvia and later lived in a Displaced Persons camp during World War II. In 1947, he emigrated to the United States with his family, beginning his studies in art at the University of Washington under prominent artists Alexander Archipenko and Mark Tobey. He further honed his craft in the San Francisco Bay Area, completing his Master of Fine Arts at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1954, where he studied under Hans Hofmann and Karl Kasten. Staprans first showcased his work at Maxwell Galleries in San Francisco and now exhibits at Hackett | Mill Gallery in San Francisco and the Peter Mendenhall Gallery in Los Angeles.
Staprans’ work is featured in major public collections, including the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the San Jose Museum of Art, and the Portland Art Museum. In 2006, a career retrospective began at the Pasadena Museum of California Art, which traveled to the Latvian National Museum of Art in Riga. His 60-year retrospective, "Full Spectrum: Paintings by Raimonds Staprans," opened at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento in 2017 and subsequently moved to the San Jose Museum of Art in 2018.
Staprans’ paintings are celebrated for their exploration of form and color, often described as both vivid and architectural, creating an interplay between abstraction and realism that challenges viewers’ perceptions. A Los Angeles exhibition review praised his “tasteful seriousness,” comparing his technique to Cézanne’s.
As a playwright, Staprans has contributed powerful works centered on 20th-century Latvia, such as his 1979 play The Freezing, produced in San Francisco and at the Latvian National Theater. His 1989 play, Four Days in June, depicts the Soviet occupation of Latvia and resonated deeply with audiences, drawing over 100 sold-out performances in Riga. This work is credited with influencing the pro-democracy movement in Latvia, winning first prize at the Baltic Theatre Festival.
In recognition of his cultural impact, Staprans received the Order of the Three Stars, Latvia’s highest civilian honor, in 2003. He currently resides in San Francisco, California, with his wife, scientist Ilona Staprāns, and has two daughters.
A comprehensive interview with Staprans was conducted by the Archives of American Art in 1997, which was later expanded into the book Raimonds Staprans: Art of Tranquility and Turbulence by Paul Karlstrom, offering an in-depth view into his life and artistic philosophy.
San Francisco Bay Area Abstract Expressionist
Oil and mixed media on Canvas
Floating / Boat Home in Sausalito
1955
House, Architectural
Painting is marked/signed by the artist, in several areas. Signed lower left " and is notated under the artist's initials which appears to be the date of '55. The lower middle has a few notations. To the right of the initials, in black is the artist's notation, "Sausalito." One notation is "SF" in larger script
The painting measures approximately 24" X 30", plus frame
The painting is in very good original condition and is still housed in the original, vintage, wood frame. There have been no overpaints, or chemical cleans performed. There is a small nick in the painting, with missing paint, as shown, in the middle, below the window. Please review the images.
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