John Pence Gallery

10/14/2017

For 44 years, I was privileged to own and operate the John Pence Gallery in San Francisco. During that time we introduced quite a few new artists who became leaders in their fields of academic realism. We always collected artists and were stakeholders in their blossoming careers. Over that span of time i assembled an impressive collection of early works by these artists. It sort of got out of control......
numbering in the 500's. With retirement, Ive decided to sell a good many of the paintings through the kind auspices of Turner Auctions here in the Bay Area. An online auction will take place on Sunday, October 22. See below for details.
The prices are well below current retail prices. Check in, browse the first 205 to be offered, then register to bid. I wish you well. Some real prizes for YOUR collections !!!

Live Online Auction: Sunday, October 22 at 10:30 am PDTOnline Preview: Through the Sale

07/28/2017

Closing the gallery has been an arduous task. We are still at it.
So many memories, so many young artists who began their careers right here. I miss them and hope to be able to see each and every one of them in the future. I felt that I was also their friend, mentor and huge admirer. I only regret that I hadn't talked more collectors into buying ALL of their works. We were blessed with young talents that were not afraid to be the best
and do their best. I loved challenging the artists to try doing paintings that were a stretch for them...and to witness their self satisfaction in having exceeded and excelled.

The next chapter will be upon me sooner rather than later. Thanks for all your suggestions....but for now, I need to close and have Saturdays off. In my entire working career I have always held positions that were six and seven days a week.
I hope you will stay in touch through this facility or through emails. I think you know how much I have enjoyed knowing
you, working with you, and sharing our mutual passion for
art.

06/15/2017

Greetings from San Francisco.....where we have been busy closing the gallery. So many wonderful memories. So many newfound friends. Experiencing the growth in fine realist art. And the artists --- I can never seem to find words adequate
to describe my fondness for artists. I'm not turing into a photog...just wanted to share a short of the gallery from the garden...Quite a respite...Enjoy!!!!

05/16/2017

Greetings from San Francisco......where we await another warm week to bask in......California !!!! During our 44 year stint in San Francisco, we have had a few grand moments along the way. One was meeting up with the estate of Minerva J. Chapman...an American young artist who ventured to Paris and became a legend alongside Cassat and Foote and Nourse.
We sold more than 200 works from Chapman's estate...here are a few that remain available today....Enjoy!!!

05/13/2017

Greetings from San Francisco......and I just wanted to clarify that the show ending today is our last show. But we will be here until the end of June. Tending to the closure and working with the artists as best we can. I will never stop enjoying sharing the magnificent works we have had the pleasure of representing. A group of artists that stands out and excels.
Here is the grand old Master himself, David Leffel. and his most impressive still life.....Enjoy!!!

05/12/2017

Greetings from San Francisco.....and quite a beautiful day it is.....just today and tomorrow for the BIG Group Show which will be our last show...and then the curtain will fall on this 44 years old gallery. It's been a momentous ride. Here is a recent work by the esteemed Sherrie McGraw. Enjpy !!!

05/06/2017

Greetings from San Francisco.......and thank you for your kind remarks....and a chance to share with you all one of Donald Davis' final sculptures in marble. He passed a year ago and is missed each and every day. So peaceful, so tranquil, so contemplative...
this one is titled Keyway....Enjoy!!!

05/01/2017

Greetings from San Francisco......bathed in 81 degrees of California warmth....awaiting the melt of the snow pack.....
rich variations every ever day of the year. A note from the gallery ---- yes, it is true that I will be retiring at the end of June.
After 44 years in San Francisco, Wonderful years representing
some of the finest painters and sculptors in the U.S. Our mission was to find worthy artists, expose their work to the public, and work with them to get their careers started off on the right track. I believe we have met those goals. Below, a painting by Jason Gaillard of yours truly a few years back.

04/25/2017

Greetings from San Francisco.....and what a beautiful day it is!!!!! Word on the street has prompted many folks to drop into the current Group Show, which is huge and includes all the artists in the gallery, plus more. Make plans to visit us when you can....this will be our last show as we are retiring from the gallery business this summer....and we will miss you when we are gone. Here's a small gem by Gardner Symons who has created a large scene in a small space..an impeccable use of
utility and knowing when to stop....Enjoy!!!

04/24/2017

Greetings from San Francisco.....a beautiful day here by the Bay.......quite an active crowd of visitors on Saturday.....many with wild praise for this Group Show.....150 paintings, big and small.....several red dots including one on this brilliant work by Tony Curanaj.... congratulations to both the artist and the client...Enjoy!!!

04/17/2017

Greetings from San Francisco..........on a chilly wet day.....the perfect sort of day to visit the gallery nearest you. Let us hope some of you are near to a gallery and will take this prompt. Art is mostly overlooked in the frantic world we live in and those of us who are partial to the arts and what they bring to us are a rarified niche. Thank you! When our sector begins to grow - the world will be a better place!.......here is a serene gem --- imagine having this superb painting to greet you each and every day....Edward Minoff's "Ember" is available.

04/11/2017

Greetings from San Francisco......where you will find us busy what with the opening for Spring Showcase this Friday evening from six to 8 P.M. We'd love to see you and know that quite a few of the artists will be here to greet you. This large Group Show will have more than one hundred works by American Realist Leaders. A distinguished roster from across the country. Here is a landscape that is an epic. It will have you captive in real time.