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Home Online Exhibitions

The Beauty of Washi

Sarah Brayer - Tsuki (2009)

The Beauty of Washi

The Beauty of Washi

When I started at the gallery over 40 years ago, one of the things that attracted me to Japanese art was the beauty of the handmade papers in many of the works.

Each artist’s way of using high-quality kozo, gampi fiber, and handmade papers from Nepal and other countries was quite unique compared to the art of the West.

Initially Mitzie Verne, my mom, helped to introduce the works of the living national treasures Keisuke Serizawa, the master of stencil dying, and the handmade papers of Eishiro Abe in the 1950s and 60s.

The prints from the Edo period (1603-1868), shin-hanga movement (1910s-1960s) and the sosaku-hanga movement (1910s-1950s) printed on handmade mulberry would follow.

I would then meet a group of Western artists using washi paper in ways that never had been used in previous Japanese printmaking movements.

Daniel Kelly incorporated all kinds of handmade papers, antique woodblock-printed book pages, etc. from many different countries including Nepal in his woodblock prints, lithographs, and paintings.

Yuko Kimura, who presently has approximately 15 museum shows in a traveling exhibition called Washi Transformed, takes the beauty of handmade paper one step further in her one-of-a-kind handmade paper collages and prints. Yoshio Ikezaki’s handmade paperworks are also in this museum show.

But the one person who really represents what this exhibition is all about is Sarah Brayer, an American artist who has lived in Japan over forty years. She is the only westerner who has worked consistently in Echizen since 1986. Her works are in numerous collections including the Smithsonian Institution and the British Museum to name a few. Joann Moser, Senior Curator emerita of the Smithsonian recently wrote, “Her fertile imagination and consummate craftsmanship distinguish her as one of the leading artists of her generation”.

With that, I welcome you to The Beauty of Washi and the 69th year of the Verne Collection.

Thank you,

Michael Verne

If you are interested in selling or consigning your Japanese prints, paintings, or drawings, please email us at vernecollection@gmail.com or call us at +1-216-231-8866.

AVAILABLE FROM THE EXHIBITION (94)

Gen Yamanaka - Taking A Break (2016)

Taking A Break (2016)

Yamanaka, Gen
Sarah Brayer - Layered Moonlight (2015)

Layered Moonlight (2015)

Brayer, Sarah
Sarah Brayer - Blue Crescent Moon (2009)

Blue Crescent Moon (2009)

Brayer, Sarah
Daniel Kelly - Letter From Kyoto (1995)

Letter From Kyoto (1995)

Kelly, Daniel
Daniel Kelly - Foggy Morning (1984)

Foggy Morning (1984)

Kelly, Daniel
Abe Eishiro - Handmade Paper 5

Handmade Paper 5

Eishiro, Abe
Nobuyuki Takai - Fish: Symbolize Everything You May Wish For

Fish: Symbolize Everything You May Wish For

Takai, Nobuyuki
Joshua Rome - Ameagari, After the Rain (2005)

Ameagari, After the Rain (2005)

Rome, Joshua
Gen Yamanaka - The Night Piece 1 (1985)

The Night Piece 1 (1985)

Yamanaka, Gen
Yuko Kimura - Edo Sky (2019)

Edo Sky (2019)

Kimura, Yuko
Yoshitoshi Mori - Contemplation (1990)

Contemplation (1990)

Mori, Yoshitoshi
Takao Inoue - Floating Bowl Red (2011)

Floating Bowl Red (2011)

Inoue, Takao
Takao Inoue - Floating Bowl White (2011)

Floating Bowl White (2011)

Inoue, Takao
Sarah Brayer - Cosmic Layer (2016)

Cosmic Layer (2016)

Brayer, Sarah
Yuko Kimura - Yellow Mushikui X (2022)

Yellow Mushikui X (2022)

Kimura, Yuko
Paul Binnie - Little Black and White Cat (2019)

Little Black and White Cat (2019)

Binnie, Paul
Keisuke Serizawa - Pine Branches Fan

Pine Branches Fan

Serizawa, Keisuke
Clifton Karhu - Warajiya (1985)

Warajiya (1985)

Karhu, Clifton
Shigeki Kuroda - Konayuki (2021)

Konayuki (2021)

Kuroda, Shigeki
Mikio Watanabe - Shiro: White Cat (2017)

Shiro: White Cat (2017)

Watanabe, Mikio
Sadao Watanabe - Flight Into Egypt (1974)

Flight Into Egypt (1974)

Watanabe, Sadao
Sarah Brayer - Higashiyama (1996)

Higashiyama (1996)

Brayer, Sarah
Sarah Brayer Lion in the sky (2020)

Lion in the sky (2020)

Brayer, Sarah
Abe Eishiro - Handmade Paper 3

Handmade Paper 3

Eishiro, Abe
Abe Eishiro - Handmade Paper 2

Handmade Paper 2

Eishiro, Abe
Daniel Kelly - Dragon Pearl (2007)

Dragon Pearl (2007)

Kelly, Daniel
Daniel Kelly - Beauty and Chaos (2016)

Beauty and Chaos (2016)

Kelly, Daniel
Yuko Kimura - Tsugi Hagi II (2022)

Tsugi Hagi II (2022)

Kimura, Yuko
Yuko Kimura - Wabi Dogs Under The Stars III (2022)

Wabi Dogs Under The Stars III (2022)

Kimura, Yuko
Yoshio Ikezaki - Meditation With Calm Sea (2022)

Meditation With Calm Sea (2022)

Ikezaki, Yoshio
Shigeki Kuroda - After the Rain (2019)

After the Rain (2019)

Kuroda, Shigeki
Paul Binnie - Cloud Shadows Grand Canyon (c. 2004)

Cloud Shadows: Grand Canyon (c. 2004)

Binnie, Paul
Julie McLaughlin - A Penny On The Tracks II (2021)

A Penny on the Tracks II (2021)

McLaughlin, Julie
John Einarsen - House With Geraniums (c. 2018)

Small Buildings of Kyoto: House With Geraniums (c. 2018)

Einarsen, John
Ito Shinsui - Washing the Hair (1936)

Washing the Hair (1936)

Shinsui, Ito
Tatiana Ginsberg - 100 Days (2006)

100 Days (2006)

Ginsberg, Tatiana
Micah Schwaberow - Twilight Haiku (2018)

Twilight Haiku (2018)

Schwaberow, Micah
Sarab Brayer - Peak (2000)

Peak (2000)

Brayer, Sarah
Yuko Kimura - Tsugi Hagi I (2022)

Tsugi Hagi I (2022)

Nobuyuki Takai - Flat Cat (2016)

Flat Cat (2016)

Takai, Nobuyuki
Keisuke Serizawa - Bamboo (1955-80)

Bamboo (1955-80)

Serizawa, Keisuke
Joshua Rome - Amawaku no Harusame (1981)

Amawaku no Harusame (1981)

Rome, Joshua
Kata Kata - Dancing Bear (2015)

Dancing Bear (2015)

Kata, Kata
Miku Ishizaki - Daisies (2011)

Daisies (2011)

Ishizaki, Miku
Hidehiko Gotou - Day and Night (2005)

Day and Night (2005)

Gotou, Hidehiko
Mayumi Oda - Flowers For Honey, Green Gulch Seed Catalogue Series (1980)

Flowers For Honey, Green Gulch Seed Catalogue Series (1980)

Oda, Mayumi
Masahiko Takada - Moon Viewing Cat I (2012)

Moon Viewing Cat I (2012)

Takada, Masahiko
Masahiko Takada - Moon Viewing Cat II, Sleeping Cat (2012)

Moon Viewing Cat II, Sleeping Cat (2012)

Takada, Masahiko
Masahiko Takada - Moon Viewing Cat III (2012)

Moon Viewing Cat III (2012)

Takada, Masahiko
Tuula Moilanen - Convenience, The Bath: Six Dreams of Japanese Beauties (2008)

Convenience, The Bath: Six Dreams of Japanese Beauties (2008)

Moilanen, Tuula
Joshua Rome - Kaki, Persimmons (2006)

Kaki, Persimmons (2006)

Rome, Joshua
Sadao Watanabe - The Nativity (1971)

The Nativity (1971)

Watanabe, Sadao
Micah Schwaberow - Reflections VI (1984)

Reflections VI (1984)

Schwaberow, Micah
Kata Kata - Dancing With Wolves (2016)

Dancing With Wolves (2016)

Kata, Kata
Keisuke Serizawa - Children of the Snow I: Four Figures at Night

Children of the Snow I: Four Figures at Night

Serizawa, Keisuke
Nobuyuki Takkai - Bear Family

Bear Family

Takai, Nobuyuki
Nobuyuki Takai - Clouds (2016)

Clouds (2016)

Takai, Nobuyuki
Mikio Watanabe - Kuro Black Cat(2021)

Kuro: Black Cat (2021)

Watanabe, Mikio
Shihoko Fukumoto - Firefly Fan 2 (2015)

Firefly Fan 2 (2015)

Fukumoto, Shihoko
Daniel Kelly - Holy Moly (2018)

Holy Moly (2018)

Kelly, Daniel
Yuko Kimura - Edo Sky No. 20 (2022)

Edo Sky No. 20 (2022)

Kimura, Yuko
Hidehiko Gotou - Combing The Night (Yoru no Suka)

Combing The Night (Yoru no Suka)

Gotou, Hidehiko
Daniel Kelly - Rolling Out (2005)

Rolling Out (2005)

Kelly, Daniel
Kata Kata - Alligator (2012)

Alligator (2012)

Kata, Kata
Takuji Kubo - Echo from Kamakura (2011)

Echo from Kamakura (2011)

Kubo, Takuji
Sarah Brayer - Sea Moon (2018)

Sea Moon (2018)

Brayer, Sarah
John Einarsen - Gomi Yashiki: Hoarder's House (c. 2018)

Small Buildings of Kyoto: Gomi Yashiki, Hoarder’s House (c. 2018)

Einarsen, John
Yoshikatsu Tamekane - Absorption (2016)

Absorption (2016)

Tamekane, Yoshikatsu
Yoshio Ikezaki - Timeless Memory 02 (2019)

Timeless Memory 02 (2019)

Ikezaki, Yoshio
Daniel Kelly - Blue Lantern (1985)

Blue Lantern (1985)

Kelly, Daniel
Gen Yamanaka - The Power of Dreams (1990)

The Power of Dreams (1990)

Yamanaka, Gen
Gen Yamanaka - Place Where The Stars Shine (2004)

Place Where The Stars Shine (2004)

Yamanaka, Gen
Gen Yamanaka - Night Memories (2014)

Night Memories (2014)

Yamanaka, Gen
Shigeki Kuroda - Mist (2020)

Mist II (2020)

Kuroda, Shigeki
Sarah Brayer - Singing the Blues (2009)

Singing the Blues (2009)

Brayer, Sarah
Gen Yamanaka - When the Stars Are Shining (2015)

When the Stars Are Shining (2015)

Yamanaka, Gen
Daniel Kelly - Strawberries (1990)

Strawberries (1990)

Kelly, Daniel
Shigeki Kuroda - Umbrella '79 (1979)

Umbrella ’79 (1979)

Kuroda, Shigeki
Joshua Rome - Barking (1980)

Barking (1980)

Rome, Joshua
John Einarsen - Rakushin-an House of the Easy-Going Heart (c. 2018)

Small Buildings of Kyoto: Rakushin-an House of the Easy-Going Heart (c. 2018)

Einarsen, John
Takuji Kubo - Evening Light (2015)

Evening Light (2015)

Kubo, Takuji
Sarah Brayer - Sea of Japan (2014)

Sea of Japan (2014)

Brayer, Sarah
Gen Yamanaka - Little Stars (2014)

Little Stars (2014)

Yamanaka, Gen
Sarah Brayer - Revealing Red (2010)

Revealing Red (2010)

Brayer, Sarah
Gen Yamanaka - Dawn (2015)

Dawn (2015)

Yamanaka, Gen
Kyotango Matsushima (2014) By Sarah Brayer

Kyotango Matsushima (2014)

Brayer, Sarah
Sarah Brayer - Moon Shadow (2009)

Moon Shadow (2009)

Brayer, Sarah
Karyn Young - Tea for Three (1993)

Tea for Three (1993)

Young, Karyn
Sarah Brayer - Desert Moon

Desert Moon (2021)

Brayer, Sarah
Eishiro Abe - Handmade Paper 1

Handmade Paper 1

Eishiro, Abe
Shigeki Kuroda - Heavy Snowfall: Ōyuki (2022)

Heavy Snowfall: Ōyuki (2022)

Kuroda, Shigeki
Yuko Kimura - Hope (2022)

Hope (2022)

Kimura, Yuko
Gen Yamanaka - A Day of Stars (2012)

A Day of Stars (2012)

Yamanaka, Gen
Sarah Brayer - Tsuki (2009)

Tsuki (Moon) (2009)

Brayer, Sarah

Established in 1953, the Verne Collection is a gallery that specializes in Japanese prints and paintings. We invite you to take in the quiet elegance of the work of these artists.

2207 Murray Hill Road,
Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
Email: vernecollection@gmail.com
Phone: +1 216 231 8866
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 11am - 5pm
© 2022 Created by MACAMR Studios.