HOUSTON, TX (Feb. 7, 2006) - Lithographs by famed Russian artist Marc Chagall as well as works by other modern masters will be up for auction Thursday, Feb. 9, 2006, at a special charity event benefiting Holocaust Museum Houston sponsored by Off the Wall Gallery.

Auction previews and registration begin at 6 p.m., with the auction from 7 to 9 p.m. at the gallery, on Level 2 of the Galleria II at 5085 Westheimer Road. Auction items, with minimum bids, will include Chagall lithographs and other original lithographs, etchings and linocuts by Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro and Henri Matisse. Included will be Chagall lithographs from The Bible and The Jerusalem Windows.

The auction is being held in connection with the gallery's "The Modern Masters" show, with receptions and informative talks scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10 and Saturday, Feb. 11, and from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 12.

"The owners of off the wall gallery, descendants of Holocaust survivors, are proud to collaborate with Holocaust Museum Houston in presenting an exhibition of work by the modern masters, featuring Marc Chagall. Through his remarkable imagery of Jewish life and his everlasting commemoration of the Holocaust, Chagall continues to keep alive the culture and spirit of his people and their history," said Paula Siegel, co-owner of the gallery.

Chagall was born in Vitebsk, Russia in 1887 and lived to be 97 years old. His style, while reflective of cubist, expressionist and surrealist affinities, was distinctly personal. His first lithography plates (30 in all from 1922-1923) were executed in crayon on lithographic paper. A Chagall lithograph was rarely based on one of his paintings, but his canvases often were adapted from his lithographs, while serving as working sketches.

Holocaust Museum Houston promotes awareness and educates the public of the dangers of prejudice, hatred and violence against the backdrop of the Holocaust by fostering remembrance, understanding and education.

Holocaust Museum Houston is free and open to the public and is located in Houston's Museum District at 5401 Caroline St., Houston, TX 77004.

For more information about Holocaust Museum Houston, call 713-942-8000 or visit www.hmh.org. To RSVP for the benefit auction, call 713-871-0940 or e-mail rsvp@offthewallgallery.com.