Mirror Polished Bronze Abstract Objects By Barbara Beretich

This rare collection of abstract bronze figures by Barbara Beretich (1936–2018) comes directly from her estate. Four distinct forms are represented across the set.

Each piece is cast in warm, mirror-polished bronze. The forms read as abstracted figures or totems. Some suggest a splayed, cross-like silhouette with a raised central node. Others carry a more compressed, anvil-like shape. All share a fluid, tactile quality that reads as both ancient and modern. They display beautifully together, particularly grouped within a bowl or arranged on a surface. This is an unusual opportunity to acquire a cohesive body of work by a single artist.

Beretich was a driving force in the Claremont art scene for more than 50 years. She earned her BFA from the University of Illinois in 1958, then traveled to Europe where she befriended French artist Françoise Gilot. She went on to earn her MFA in sculpture from Claremont Graduate University, where she met Millard Sheets, who became a lifelong mentor. She later did independent study in Paris and in Italy with a focus on bronze casting. From 1973 to 1978 she directed Gallery 8 in Claremont, then founded Galeria Beretich from her home, which became a significant gathering place for collectors and artists. Her home gallery was considered a cornerstone of what is now referred to as the “Claremont School.”