Michael Cocco

Michael Cocco is a self-taught artist from Pittsburgh, PA who fell in love with drawing at a very early age and continued to develop and grow throughout the adolescent years of his life, harnessing inspiration from comic book, cartoon, and video game characters along with skateboard graphics and graffiti. Although receiving such accolades as being selected to participate in an art mentorship program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Congressional recognition for artwork his senior year of high school, Michael felt discouragement from his peers and superiors. In 2006 he obtained a non-art related degree from Duquesne University and rediscovered his passion for what he once loved so dearly through seeing graffiti and street art on the streets he traveled while enrolled. He has recently won honors with Art Dimensions and designed the 2009 Christmas card for UnitedHealthcare, his current employer. Michael is dedicated now more than ever to expanding his knowledge of art history and harnessing his skills to one day help guide children and give them the encouragement they need to succeed in the world as artists.