Michael Mortara

Michael Mortara was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1960. He has been an independent glass artist since 1979. He received a B.S. in Architecture with a minor in Fine Art from University of Hawaii. In addition to being an artist, Mortara has also been a teacher of art. From 1979-1986 he was a technical assistant in the glass blowing program at Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii. This is one of the few high schools in the country with an established glass blowing program. He has had his own studio since 1986 and has been assisted by his wife, Misato since the early 1990’s. Misato was born in Shizuoka, Japan and is an accomplished artist as well. Their work can be found in the collections of the Hawaii State Foundation of Culture and the Arts and the Contemporary Museum of Hawaii. ARTIST STATEMENT "There is something both dramatic and dynamic about the manipulation of a molten mass of glass, such that the process has almost as much appeal for me as does the finished product. Hot glass is in constant motion - once you start, you can’t stop until the piece is finished. I’ve conceded that it’s the glass that is really in control as much as I would like to think otherwise."