Artist Talk with Brian Clarke aka Les Toil

Art talk at The Grand Gallery Oakland with Brian Clarke

Thursday evening in Jack London, The Grand Gallery Oakland is hosting a talk with Brian Clarke, also known as Les Toil. It runs from 6:00 to 7:30 pm, which makes it an easy after work stop if you are near downtown Oakland, the waterfront, or coming in from BART.

Brian has had the kind of art path people like to ask about. His work has shown up in the Village Voice, the New York Times, comic books, films, ads, and on covers for Harlan Ellison novels. That is a wide lane, and hearing how someone moves through all those worlds should make for a good room.

The Grand Gallery has that quiet Oakland gallery feel where you can actually look, listen, and talk without feeling rushed. It sits at 560 2nd St, right next door to Narrative, so the area already has a creative pull to it.

If you are an artist, illustrator, comic reader, design person, or just curious about how visual work finds its way into print, film, and publishing, this is worth putting on your calendar. The best artist talks are the ones where you leave with a few honest stories and a clearer sense of how the work gets made.

When: Thursday, August 13, 2026, 6:00 to 7:30 pm
Where: The Grand Gallery Oakland, 560 2nd St, Oakland
Event info: View details

Let’s talk art with Brian Clarke. Brian, aka Les Toil, has been published in the Village Voice, New York Times, on the cover of Harlan Ellison’s novels, in comic books, movies and advertisements. Discover how he navigated the art world and what he’s up to today. Thursday, August 13th 6:00 to 7:30pm at the Grand Gallery Oakland, 560 2nd St. next door to Narrative.