Born in North Carolina, Michael Nardozzi was a resident of New Bern for approximately 29 years. While in North Carolina, he received a two-year degree in photography. However, his love of vintage cars temporarily redirected his attention to the opening of Neuse Paint & Collision in 1995, where he soon became highly regarded as a leader in automotive restoration. While owning Neuse Paint & Collision, Michael refined his talent of painting by airbrush, simultaneously cultivating his innate ability to sculpt with metal.
With time, Michael became unsettled with the confines of work at Neuse Paint & Collision and his life in North Carolina, leading him to dreams of a more tropical, laid back environment. When his dreams reached uncontrollable proportions, he was Maui bound.
With his tools crated and ready for shipment, and two suitcases each, he and his girlfriend, Bari, landed on Maui on February 5, 2003, site unseen. It is believed that Maui either welcomes you wholeheartedly or spits you out. There was never a doubt . . . Maui opened its arms to the pair as they quickly settled into a studio on the North Shore. Within weeks, Michael found a workspace and his tools were shipped.
Maui represented endless possibilities when paired with Michael’s vivid imagination, and he immediately began to sculpt images reflecting the beautiful landscapes and surfing scenes that greeted him each day. But Maui would later reveal to him its most awe-inspiring gift.
Although he had always possessed an insatiable craving for the ocean and its next swell (surfing until he was too tired to paddle another stroke), it wasn’t until Michael ventured beneath the ocean’s surface that he witnessed the real gift. He discovered the life and color and beauty of the Pacific that had evaded him. The yellow tangs, Moorish idols, clown fish, trigger fish, pencil urchins, sea turtles, crystal clear waters and intricate reef system energized him, as he feverishly began cutting, welding, sculpting and painting those images for others to enjoy.
Almost six years later, these same scenes continue to inspire him, as each unique sculpture and beautiful paintimg pays tribute to Maui and the islands of Hawaii.
His art has been well received in the art community, and can be found in Images Fine Art Gallery in Lahaina, the Maui Ocean Center in Ma’alea, Maui Hands Lahaina, Bay The Bay Gallery in Paia and numerous residences throughout the islands, the mainland, and abroad.
Michael Nardozzi of Dozzizart would like to extend to you a very warm Mahalo Nui for visiting Dozzizart, and encourages you to send your questions and comments to mike@dozzizart.com.
