David Verba Gallery

 I started doing artwork at the age of 12. At that same time, I started regular trips taking two buses on my own from the Waterloo area of Cleveland to The Cleveland Museum of Art. Since that time, I have been visiting the CMA at least one a month.  I earned a BFA in Drawing from The Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) in 1980 and an MFA in Painting from Kent State University in 1984. During my time at CIA, I was twice awarded the Henry Keller Memorial Drawing Award and received the Helen Green Perry Award, which funded my travel to Japan. I spent the following seven years working and studying as an artist in Japan, where I held seven solo exhibitions, including one at The Fukuoka Museum of Art which accepted two of my works for their collection. During my final year there, I was honored with the Monbukagakusho Scholarship from the Japanese Ministry of Education.

In addition to my fine art practice, I frequently work as an illustrator. I enjoy challenging myself working in a completely different manner than my studio work.  My cover and interior illustrations have appeared in numerous small press publications, including editions of the collected letters of H. P. Lovecraft and a cover image for the French publisher Editions Malpertuis. My artwork has also been featured on the CD cover for the internationally known Japanese musician Nujabes’ "Modal Soul," as well as the illustration for "WAR and the GIRL" by the popular Japanese rap musician ZORN.

As an educator, I currently serve as a continuing education art instructor at the Cleveland Institute of Art. My teaching background also includes positions at North Seattle Community College, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and adjunct roles at both the Tri-C Eastern and Metro campuses. 

Recently I had a solo exhibition at the Main Campus of University Hospitals were two of my works were purchased by UH for their collections, and another as a donation. I also was part of a two person exhibit at the Understory Gallery at the 78th Street Studios, and I took art in the 1980 CIA Alumni Exhibition.