WHAT IT WAS
WHAT IT IS
WHAT IT WAS
WHAT IT IS
WHAT IT IS
Original artwork by Mike Tucci — born in chaos, crafted with precision.
PART I. Roots
Born and raised in Central Islip, New York, Mike Tucci picked up a bass guitar at age four—and never put it down. Forgoing a college scholarship, he moved to Los Angeles to chase music on his own terms. There, he played bass on The Price Is Right, produced at Hollywood Sound, and directed music videos featured on Fuse TV and more.
But the stage lights faded. A growing battle with addiction led to time in jail, culminating in a near-death experience during a riot. As his cell filled with accelerants, Mike chose to smash his head against the concrete—opting to take his own life rather than be burned alive. Miraculously, he survived.
PART II. Transformation
He fled to Arizona. Not to restart—but to disappear. Yet, in a moment of chance, surrounded by recovery facilities, strangers, and the desert’s quietude, something changed. He found creation in destruction. Order in chaos.
With metal nails, acrylic, and wood, he began building again—not just art, but a life. Not because of the pain, but in spite of it.
Mike Tucci is now a full-time artist, designer, and maker. His work explores duality, mythology, rebellion, pop culture, and spiritual reckoning. Each piece is hand-crafted—driven by sound, shadow, and soul.