Verne Gallery

Verne Gallery The Verne Gallery was established in 1953. We specialize in antique and contemporary Japanese prints, and prints and paintings by American artists in Japan.

08/30/2026

Sunday’s With Mike: Breaking News: World Famous Art Dealer From Cleveland At The Princeton Art Museum.

I was honored to be invited by the curator of asian art at The Princeton Art Museum for the opening of the outrageous cartoonist, printmaker, and painter Hideo Takeda exhibition.

The minute I arrived at the after party after viewing the exhibition, the whole room erupted at my presence

I was greeted by famous curators, my fellow dealers in contemporary Japanese prints, and introduced to the movers and shakers at the museum opening.

It’s my final morning in Princeton at PJ’s Pancake House.

Thank you to Hideo, Kit, Jim, Kim, Yuko, David, and Allison for making an ordinary guy like Mike feel so special.

Moral Of The Story: It Doesn’t Matter Where Your From. It Takes A Team To Achieve Greatness.

Photos.

Entrance To Hideo Takeda Exhibition

Mike at The exhibition

Painting from the Gempei Series by Hideo Takeda

I’m a cartoonist

P**p

Mike At PJ’s Pancake House

Mike Posing For His Fans in Front of PJ’s

World Night Tours Japan Painting

Mike At The Exhibition





08/23/2026

Sunday’s: With Mike: Eye Of The Tiger

As I get ready to get ready to travel to the Princeton Art Museum for the Hideo Takeda exhibition , to meet with my college friends at The Finger Lakes, and the Chicago Fine Print Fair and The Washington DC Fine Print Fair this fall, I get really nervous.

Often times, we all often wonder if you will be good enough in whatever situation. However, from the time I was a little kid until now, I was always taught to overcome your fears and whether you fail or succeed, you need to have the eye of a tiger and courage to try.

We all wear many hats in life. Each hat represents the different personalities that are hidden inside of us.

I wear my green skateboard hat to pretend I’m cool.

My Shaker Heights Hat represents where I went to school as a kid and where my sons were sports stars.

The Fox in Japan has magical powers and represents the mischievous in all of us.

My Cleveland Baseball Cap probably is my favorite and shows the true Mike

Someone gave me this World Famous Art Dealer cap at one of the many exhibitions I have done around the United States.

Moral Of The Story: You have the courage to throw your hat into the ring if you want to be one of the best in the world.

www.vernegallery.com





08/16/2026

Sunday’s With Mike: Old Friends

I still live in the same town i grew up in

The friends I make in life are my friends forever.

Last night I had dinner in Little Italy with my buddy Tom, who lives in Aspen, Colorado. He has been my friend since elementary school.

We had some wild times in high school, but we both look very respectable now. LOL.

Moral Of The Story: Never Forget Your Old Or New Friends. They like you just the way you are.

Thanks for a great time Tom.

Photos:

Tom and Mike

Moon and Bears: Two Friends
Yuuka Miyajima
Painting on old Rice Bag

Tom

Mike

Tom’s Childhood House.





friends

Discover the beauty of Quiet Elegance at the Verne Gallery.
08/15/2026

Discover the beauty of Quiet Elegance at the Verne Gallery.

08/11/2026

Tuesday’s With Mike: A Guy Walks Into A Bar

I often sit at the bar at Etna Restaurant and meet interesting people.

Many years ago a young man named David was sitting next to me at this special Restaurant and Bar in Little Italy with a Cleveland Guardians Baseball Cap On his head.

As we watched the game on the bar tv, he told me about his life as the concierge at the luxury Intercontinental Hotel next to the famous Cleveland Clinic. I told him about the Verne Gallery and we laughed about life.

In today’s Cleveland.com an extension of the Cleveland newspaper there was a wonderful article about him called

“Google can’t do everything. This Cleveland concierge is proving why”

He was nice enough to mention the Verne Gallery in the article .

“Among his favorite hidden gems in Cleveland: Brick and Barrel Brewing in the Flats, Etna and Valerio’s in Little Italy and Verne Collection, an art gallery that specializes in Japanese prints, also in Little Italy.“

I hope you will come into the gallery before we travel with all the new acquisitions to Chicago and DC this fall. or enjoy our new Internet exhibition called “ A Sense Of Space “

Photos

Tequila Sunrise
By Tim Callaghan
Painting

Little Waves
By Yuko Kimura
Etching, Monotype,Hand Sewn
Thread, Kozo Bark Fiber,
Handmade Kozo Paper
Edition of 1

Gion In Kyoto
By Kiyoshi Saito
Limited Edition Woodblock
Print

First Snow
By Shigeki Kuroda
Painting

Blue Waltz
By Mayumi Oda
Limited Edition
Silkscreen Print

Rover No 1
By Katsutoshi Yuasa
Limited Edition Woodblock

www.vernegallery.com





08/09/2026

Sunday’s With Mike: The Alumni Soccer Game

Almost 55 years ago, I played high school soccer.

After much debate, lots of doubt, and many humorous texts from my friends and former teammates, I decided to play at the age of 70.

As I walked out on to the field, lots of memories flashed through my head of playing with all my friends my senior year in 1974.

As I came off the field with a few tears in my eyes,I could hear the claps from all the people in the stands.

Thank you to all the young players on both Shaker teams and my son Kevin for playing with me one more time.

Moral Of The Story: You are never too old to live out your dreams.





08/02/2026

Sunday’s With Mike: Field Of Dreams

Every summer my parents would take most
of the kids and grandkids on a vacation. Wherever we went my sons Brian and Kevin and my nephew Dave Franco would find an open field and play baseball. I was the pitcher. We called the various fields The Field Of Dreams. The main purpose of the game was to encourage them to pursue their dreams whether they were big or small and to never give up

Very proud to say Dave’s new movie “ Idiots” is coming out in a few weeks.

Idiots: Two rock-bottom drivers transport a wealthy teen to rehab, but their simple job spirals into a chaotic journey of drugs, danger, and crime as their passenger derails their plans.

I hope you enjoy Dave’s new comedy. Very proud of you bud. ♥️⚾️☘️. Mike

I wish I had half the talent of all my kids and nephews.

Moral Of The Story: Life Is A Field of Dreams

Photos:

The Trailer photo for the Movie Idiots

Kevin, Dave, and Brian on the Field Of Dreams in
France around 1998.

07/26/2026

Sunday’s With Mike: Meeting Someone For The First Time

The other day I was having a wonderful dinner at Etna and the nice couple sitting next to me at the bar said “ It was nice to meet you last Sunday”. I had no clue where I was last Sunday.
Each day or night in Cleveland or as I travel around the country for my exhibitions or to meet with family or friends or my kids friends, I meet many people, usually, while grabbing some dinner at a fun restaurant or bar.

They usually share hilarious stories about their lives. It’s great fun.

However, at 70, in many cases, I cannot remember who they are and their wonderful
stories.

Moral Of The Story: Every Day Is An Exciting New Day In The World Of Mike

Photos

A nice guy I met in San Francisco
at The SF Rare Print Fair

One of my son Brian’s favorite bars in
Cleveland

Mike and Dog

Brian’s friends in Santa Monica recognizing
a World Famous Art Dealer in the local bar.

*( I eventually recognized the nice couple at Etna)





07/19/2026

Sunday’s With Mike: Hitori No Party. ( Partying Alone)

The summertime is a very quiet time in the art world.

In the summer, People are outside playing, on vacation, taking nature walks, or watching their kid or grandkid at a little league game on a sunny day

The most famous prints in Japanese art usually show a single lonely solitary figure surrounded by beautiful, trees,mountains and rivers.

Thus, the only thing for a world famous dealer to do is to have a party by himself in the backyard

Moral Of The Story: There is always a party going on in Cleveland. I hope to see you at the gallery, or my backyard this summer.

www.vernegallery.com

Images

Hitori No Painting ( Partying Alone)
By Cou Conose
Painting

Mike Partying By Himself

100 Views of Edo
By Hiroshige
Woodblock Print

Bloomin Sky II
By Tuula Moilanen
Woodblock Print

Zojoji Shiba
By Hasui
Woodblock Print

Mount Fuji On A Sunny Day
By Tuula Moilanen
Woodblock Print

Tenno Temple Osaka
By Hasui
Woodblock Print

Bloomin Sky I
By Tuula Moilanen
Woodblock Print





Address

2207 Murray Hill Rd
Cleveland, OH
44106

Opening Hours

Tuesday 11am - 5pm
Wednesday 11am - 5pm
Thursday 11am - 5pm
Friday 11am - 5pm
Saturday 11am - 5pm

Telephone

+12162318866

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Verne Gallery posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to Verne Gallery:

Shortcuts

Share

Category