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.

09/06/2026

Sunday’s With Mike: Getting Ready For The Traveling Exhibitions: Gotta Pretty Up

Secrets From A World Famous Art Dealer.

It takes months to put together some of the most exciting prints and paintings to take around the country while at the same time designing the Takeda Internet show, running the gallery and preparing for art fairs in Chicago and DC in October and November.

Well, I am off to visit my college party friends next week in Skaneateles, New York.

It’s going to be a great art season. Don’t miss it.

Moral Of The Story: in The World of Mike, There Are Few Things Better Than Watching A Ballgame With The Family Dog (Baker), Seeing Old Friends, And Trying To Be The Best Art Dealer In The World.

See Ya In Chicago.: Gotta Pretty Up Now.

Photos

Baker and Mike watching baseball in bed

Baker and his baseball

Baker on the couch watching baseball

Floating World Cat By Hideo Takeda Painting

Mike and Baker taking a walk in his last day at my house.

Thanks Baker ❤️





09/03/2026

About 20 years ago, I received a phone call from an important museum curator and friend who told me that I should contact a printmaker and painter named Hideo Takeda. Takeda had recently held a one-man exhibition of his works at the British Museum. (1996)

The subject matter of his prints was much different than anything I had ever shown before, and varied, from his outrageous depictions of historical events in the 12th century to making fun of all of us in the 21st century in his prints and drawings.

Combining the aesthetics of traditional prints, Western cartoons, and textile patterns, Hideo Takeda’s prints are startling, boldly graphic, often surreal, and at times subtly beautiful. I have just returned from a major exhibition of his works at the Princeton Art Museum called Takeda Hideo’s Genpei: Defying Authority.

This online exhibition will shock you, make you laugh, and teach you a little bit about ancient Japanese history and current events that can only be depicted by one of the most creative Japanese artists of our time.

Please enjoy this internet exhibition before we travel to our art fairs in Chicago and DC this fall.

www.vernegallery.com

Photos
Snowy Night Painting

Mike at the Princeton Art Museum last week

Floating World Cat. Painting

World Night Tours: Skateboard Painting

The Lumberjack Drawing

The Mark Of The Fan Painting





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.

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

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