Michael Mortara was first introduced to glass blowing as a student in high school and has been working with that medium for over 24 years. In 1980, he joined the glass blowing department at Punahou School as a technical assistant while completing a degree in Architecture from the University of Hawaii.
Several years ago, he began a shift away from his architectural and construction endeavors to focus more time on his work in glass. In the summer of 1998, he began the construction of his new glass studio on the upper slopes of Kilauea volcano on the island of Hawaii. As a full time glass artist, he and his wife, glass artist Misato Mochizuki Mortara, divide their time between the production of their limited edition vessel series and one of a kind sculptural pieces. His glass is in private collections through out the US and Europe, and has been included in the permanent collection of Hawaii State Foundation of Art, and The Contemporary Museum of Art, Honolulu.
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