When Boulder’s Mikayla Verbunt set out to grow her personal art collection, she didn’t expect it would evolve into the launch of an international gallery. But on October 1, Verbunt Galerie officially makes its online debut, following a September 26 pop-up event in Boulder from 5:30–9:00 p.m. The gallery’s first show spotlights artists from six countries—a curated space that blends the intimacy of a physical gallery with the accessibility of the digital world.

From Childhood Inspiration to “Lightbulb Moment”

Verbunt’s lifelong connection to art can be traced back to her grandparents, avid collectors who filled their home with works gathered on travels across the globe.

“I loved how those pieces made their home feel layered, interesting, and full of stories,” she recalls. “It showed me that art is more than decoration—it’s a way of shaping how we live and connect with the world.”

*Pictured here are her grandparents, Oma and Opa, captured during their travels to Switzerland*

That seed of inspiration grew quietly while Verbunt studied Fine Arts at university, before she shifted to what felt like a “safer” career path. Yet art kept tugging her back—through making, collecting, and engaging with creative communities. The real turning point came after she and her husband bought their home in Boulder. Searching for artwork left her frustrated: online platforms felt cluttered and lifestyle-driven, while traditional galleries carried an intimidating air. “Neither reflected how I, or the people I spoke with, wanted to experience art,” she says. That’s when she decided to build the kind of gallery she wished existed.

*Inspired by her grandparents’ love of adventure and collecting, Verbunt Galerie carries forward a legacy of curiosity, creativity, and building something uniquely your own.*

Building a Global Platform from Scratch

Verbunt Galerie began with nothing more than bookmarks on Instagram. “I became obsessed with finding the best artists from around the globe—people whose work I thought would resonate with both new and experienced collectors.” With only a handful of followers and no official credibility, she cold-messaged artists, set up Zoom calls, and shared her vision. Trust and connection were the foundation. “It was really important that there was a genuine relationship. I wanted them to feel seen and supported, not just featured,” Verbunt explains. She also prioritized variety, ensuring the gallery would feature more than paintings—bringing sculpture, textiles, and mixed media into conversation with one another.

Curating the First Show

The debut exhibition is as international as it is intimate, with artists hailing from six different countries. The selection process was instinctive yet intentional. “I wanted artists whose work felt timeless, who were pushing their medium, and who I believed would resonate with a diverse audience,” she says. The final lineup balances medium, geography, and perspective, creating a collection that feels both cohesive and expansive.

Making Art Accessible and Personal

Gone are the days of buying purely on face value. People want to understand the story behind the piece and the artist who created it.” That philosophy is woven into Verbunt Galerie’s digital presence. Through its Substack publication, Inside the Galerie, Verbunt publishes interviews and deep-dive features on each artist, allowing collectors to connect with the art in a more thoughtful, human way.

Verbunt is adamant that buying art shouldn’t feel like a transaction. “Buying a piece of art is such a personal decision—it’s something you live with and see every day.

A Surprising Welcome into the Art World

As a new gallerist, Verbunt anticipated resistance. “A lot of people warned me about the exclusivity of the art world and how hard it is to break in,” she says. Instead, she’s been met with an outpouring of support. “What’s surprised me most is how many people have been willing to meet, exchange ideas, and encourage me. There’s been a genuine sense of people wanting Verbunt Galerie to succeed—and that’s been such an energizing surprise.”

Launch Details

Verbunt Galerie will officially launch on October 1, debuting with its first exhibition featuring six international artists. The platform will go live at verbuntgalerie.com, with a special pop-up event in Boulder on September 26 to celebrate its opening.

For Verbunt, the launch is the realization of a dream that began in her grandparents’ art-filled living room and grew into a vision of connecting people and stories across borders. “Art has always been about connection,” she says. “And my hope is that Verbunt Galerie creates more ways for people to feel that.”