Scott Zuziak

Scott Zuziak

I picked up my first chisel and mallet in 2001 and carved a Hawaiian-inspired statue from a piece of pine. I was instantly hooked. Over the years, I have developed an obsession for realistic wood carving, and in 2014, I began my journey as a full-time wood carving artist. Several years later, I continue to seek inspiration and grow as an artist on the Big Island of Hawaii.

From Chicago to Hawaii: My wife and I share a passion for the art, culture, and beauty of the Hawaiian Islands. We initially met in 2000 through a Polynesian dance group in Chicago where my wife was a Hula dancer, and I performed the Samoan fire knife dance. We were hired as entertainment for private and public luau events throughout all of the Chicagoland area. During this time, I also had the fortune of traveling to the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie, Oahu, on multiple occasions to compete in the World Fire Knife Competition. In 2005, my brothers and I would open a Polynesian restaurant and dinner / show venue in the Chicago suburbs. I wore several hats in the family business while my wife was the main choreographer and performer for the restaurant’s dance troupe. In 2014, I stepped away from the restaurant to pursue a career in the arts, with a heavy focus on Polynesian and island-inspired wood art. In early 2017, my wife and I purchased a one-acre lot in an agricultural development on the east side of Hawaii near Volcano National Park. Between 2017 and 2021, I commuted from Chicago to Hawaii and built our home and an art studio. In June of 2021, we packed all of our possessions in a 40’ shipping container and moved permanently to our new home on the Big Island.

Inspiration: I draw inspiration from the discovery of wildlife, ocean life, and landscapes of Hawaii and the mainland. My wife and I are active travelers and enjoy any opportunity to hike, swim and explore. As you navigate my portfolio, you will see this common theme of nature and wildlife in my wood sculpture.