Artist Michael Maczuga

Michael Maczuga considers himself a native Arizonan. Although born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1957, he and his family moved here in 1964. He regards this move as the time he first became interested in art. Michael paints daily wherever and whenever time allows. He became a member of the Oil Painters of America in 2004. He is also the founding director of the one and only major plein aire painters show in Scottsdale, “The Wild Wild West Show,” an invitational and juried show. The plein aire show is extremely important to Michael because it allowed him to incorporate a mentorship initiative for local high school art students. When asked about the mentorship initiative Michael said, "Nobody ever told me what I needed to do to become successful as an artist. It would have helped to know what to expect. I want to help kids have a real chance at this dream career."