Legacy Village
24667 Cedar Road
Cleveland, OH 44124

216.382.7800
art@contessagallery.com

Hours of Operation

Playhouse Square 
1501 Euclid Avenue, Suite 112
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
216.861.9280

*The Playhouse Square Gallery is currently
open during select performances and by
appointment.
Please call in advance.

About Contessa Gallery

Founded in 1999, Contessa Gallery offers artworks of exceedingly high quality as well as art acquisition counsel to collectors, museums and institutions. Contessa Gallery is driven by three main principles: passion, integrity and education. Our area of expertise encompasses pre-twentieth century, Modern and Contemporary sculpture, paintings, and works on paper. Coupled with a strong commitment to service and connoisseurship, Contessa Gallery has developed a notable local, national, and international following and a reputation for integrity and excellence.

While many galleries focus primarily upon artist representation and promotion, Contessa Gallery is collector oriented. Our mission is to assist clients in developing collections that have deep personal meaning. Contessa Gallery encourages its clients to view their collections as a legacy to be passed down through generations of family or to museums.

The gallery continues to expand its clientele and reputation through its participation in art fairs such as The Armory Show – Modern, and Art Miami. At the philanthropic level, Contessa Gallery seeks to make a difference in the community through the contribution of time, expertise, sponsorship and educational programming for museums and arts organizations.

OWNERS' PROFILE

Steven Hartman is the owner and founder of The Contessa Gallery in Cleveland.
The Contessa Gallery has two locations – one at Legacy Village and the other in Playhouse Square. 

Mr. Hartman began collecting art in his early twenties, and after a very successful career as an investment advisor and Vice-President of UBS/PaineWebber he opened The Contessa Gallery to fulfill his dream of becoming a fine art dealer. Mr. Hartman has won several art industry awards, and is on the Editorial Advisory Board of Art World News Magazine.

Mr. Hartman has served on the boards of numerous charitable organizations and privately held companies. He is a University of Michigan graduate, a recipient of the prestigious “40 under 40” award by Crains Cleveland Business, and is a graduate of the Wexner Heritage Leadership
Development Program.

Mr. Hartman and The Contessa Gallery were also the presenting sponsor of the Louise Bourgeois “Spiders” sculptures in Cleveland. He is an avid art collector who is fueled by his passion for art.

Karen Tscherne is the co-owner and co-founder of Contessa Gallery in Cleveland. She has led a very interesting life. From an early age she went to live and study art in Europe. This led to her early independence, cultural sophistication, and multilingual skills.

After a highly successful career as an award winning executive in the fragrance and cosmetic industry, she co- founded Contessa Gallery. Ms. Tscherne is a Case Western Reserve University graduate. She has traveled extensively, and is an avid art collector.

Contessa Gallery strives to serve the community with its philanthropic efforts. We have given major support to:

Cleveland Public Art:

• Primary donor and presenting sponsor of the public exhibition “Spiders” by Louise Bourgeois, Cleveland Theater District, Star Plaza, Summer 2002

Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA):

• Exclusive Sponsor of POPulence, Fall 2005
• Supporting Sponsor for the collaboration of Cleveland Museum of Art and MOCA: The Persistence of Geometry: Form, Content and Culture in the Collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art,    Summer 2006
• Platino Level Supporting Sponsor of “La Vida MOCA!”, Annual Benefit Gala, honoring Toby Devan Lewis, 2006
• Exclusive Sponsor for the collaboration of Cleveland Museum of Art and MOCA: Richard Stankiewicz and John Chamberlain, Winter/Spring 2007
• Guilty Love Level Supporting Sponsor of the Annual Benefit Gala, honoring Marjorie Talalay, 2007
• Supporting Sponsor of The Business of Art Educational Panel, 2007
• Campaign LEEDers gift supporting the new building and its environmental sustainability


Akron Art Museum:

• Sponsor of the Public Symposium “Up Close and Personal with Chuck Close’s Friends” hosted by the Akron Art Museum in conjunction with the exhibition “Familiar Faces: Chuck Close in Ohio Collections”, October 11, 2009.
• Exclusive Sponsor of the Lenders and Sponsors Brunch preceding the Public Symposium, October 2009.
• Exclusive Sponsor of the new Akron Art Museum’s Major Donor Reception, July 11, 2007
• A key sponsor of the Akron Art Museum’s Defy Gravity opening gala, July 7, 2007
• Exclusive sponsor of the program booklet for the new Akron Art Museum’s Defy Gravity opening gala, July 7, 2007

The Human Fund:

• Sponsor and curator of The Silent Auction Art Benefit at The pARTy, a benefit to help save art programs that touch kids in the City of Cleveland, 2005
• Sponsor of the Art Auction at L’Art du Vin, a Wine and Art Auction to benefit The Human Fund
• Major donor to the Human Fund

Playhouse Square Foundation:

• Gold Founder Patron Level Donor to the second largest performing arts complex in the United States

 Additional Support Given To:

• The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio
• The Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio
• Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin, Ohio
• The Cleveland Institute of Art
• Intermuseum Conservation Association
• Sculpture Center, Cleveland, Ohio
• The Cleveland Orchestra
• Verb Ballets, Cleveland, Ohio
• Angle Magazine, Cleveland, Ohio