Artworks from $100 to $250,000. A collection that spans high-end silver to the largest Swiss army knife in the world. And works from over 25 countries. Canvas & Bronze, located in the Presidio of San Francisco, is arguably the most intriguing art gallery in the world – showcasing pieces you’d be hard-pressed to find in your average bricks-and-mortar gallery. And that’s exactly what it wants to be.
35 Years in 25 Countries
The story of the gallery begins 35 years ago, when Vinit Verma and his wife Vidhi began their collection of heritage silver – stemming from the Verma family in India. While travelling for work, the couple spent years acquiring interesting pieces from the countries they visited. Including a large body of European works, sculptures spanning South America and Africa and rare fossils and stones.
The true beauty of the gallery lies in its curation – which the owners make the center of the whole operation. The owners intentionally bypass traditional art world etiquette, curating a collection driven by aesthetics, provenance, and emotional resonance. That spirit extends to their website, where a “Surprise Me” button invites spontaneous exploration, like Google’s “I’m Feeling Lucky.” As Vinit puts it: “A work either speaks to you within several seconds, or it won’t speak to you at all.”
What’s in a Name? More Than Canvas and Bronze
While the name Canvas & Bronze might suggest a focus on traditional painting and sculpture, the actual inventory spans a much wider range of objects, including:
Contemporary Art: Daniel Allen Cohen’s Science of Art series—featuring witty periodic tables of wine, chocolate, golf, and travel—and Jay Kelly’s minimalist sculpture Adrift In A…
Antiques and Decorative Arts: Antique silver bangles and boxes, Hungarian pottery jugs, Japanese cast iron teapots, and vintage trays.
Historical Artifacts and Documents: A Standard Oil Trust share certificate from 1892, Moroccan Orthoceras fossils, and other items rich in historical context.
Unique Collectibles: From the “World’s Largest Swiss Army Giant Knife” to Beretta cartridge humidors.
Ethnographic and Cultural Objects: A New Zealand Maori Warrior figure, Australian didgeridoos, and Chilean decoupage, to name a few.
Traditional Fine Art: Paintings, sculptures, and prints including Fly by Terry McCue, Ancien Regime by Thierry Poncelet, and Tango Argentina by Roberto de Fortino.
This eclectic mix is what sets Canvas & Bronze apart. Most galleries specialize in specific periods or styles. This one doesn’t. Instead, it embraces variety—and invites a broader spectrum of collectors along for the ride.
An Art Collection of Chance
The collection feels organic, serendipitous even. A didgeridoo from Australia, a ceramic recreation of Rembrandt’s Night Watch weighing in at 250 pounds, and deeply emotional works by Berkeley-based artist Prabin Badhia all reflect how pieces were often discovered by chance.
Vinit as a manager at ExxonMobil, and Vidhi working in aviation, acquired the works over 35 years while working abroad. During such business travel, Vinit explains, it’s not unusual to have a single day of time for leisure. And Vinit and Vidhi would usually spend that time visiting local artists, galleries, and dealers – enjoying local culture while finding artworks to bring with them.
For many years, the works were enjoyed in the rooms of the family’s home. But much like traditional collections that were later turned into museums, the works are now made publicly available through a newly launched website. There, collectors can take several paths of discovery: using the previously mentioned ‘Surprise Me’ button, but also through an interactive map that pins works to their origins. Additionally, the artist and collections pages make the full depth of the collection clear.
Collectors Finding Their Way to Canvas & Bronze
The gallery’s diverse clientele speaks to its broad appeal. A prominent San Francisco interior designer recently selected a dramatic Belgian tapestry from Canvas & Bronze for a trendy bar’s lobby, while numerous local pet enthusiasts have gravitated toward the gallery’s sophisticated animal-themed sculptures and paintings—a perfect reflection of San Francisco’s unique demographic as a city with more dogs than children.
Similarly, cultural collectors have found specific treasures like traditional Chinese crane imagery, bringing authentic artistic elements into their homes. Perhaps most notably, Canvas & Bronze has cultivated a following among young professionals starting their collection journey, with carefully curated pieces available under $100 that maintain the gallery’s standard of quality and uniqueness.
The Gallery Fulfills Its Promise
Canvas & Bronze delivers on its promise: you won’t find another collection quite like it. While the scope and variety might seem overwhelming at first, the welcoming tone of the gallery, and the accessibility of its founders, make it a refreshing experience. Collecting art becomes about the art itself again at Canvas & Bronze – removing many boundaries that the art world traditionally creates.Canvas & Bronze welcomes art enthusiasts at https://canvasandbronze.com. Global shipping is available, and private viewings can be arranged by appointment
