About Me
Artist Bio
Mike Sakowski is a self-taught painter from St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, whose work captures the landscapes, traditions, and resilience of the Gulf Coast. His path into art began with a high school painting of a Louisiana bayou scene — the only piece of his early artwork to survive Hurricane Katrina in 2005. After years working in commercial plumbing, Sakowski returned to painting following his father's passing, channeling memory and healing into a fishing scene that reignited his creative practice. Today, working as Sakowski Original Artworks, he creates acrylic landscapes and large-scale murals — including a tribute mural honoring New Orleans icon Dr. John — and "Violet Canal" received an Honorable Mention at the River Road Show. His paintings reflect a deep, personal connection to South Louisiana life, memory, and culture.
Artist Story
From an early age, art became a way for me to express imagination, emotion, and the world around me. Around ten years old, I was constantly drawing cartoon characters from “how-to-draw” books and eventually became fascinated with graffiti lettering, stylized characters, and street-inspired artwork throughout middle school and high school. Art was more than a hobby—it was an escape and a way to create something uniquely my own.
During high school, my art teacher introduced me to landscape painting through a classroom assignment. Inspired by Bob Ross techniques I painted a Louisiana bayou scene in oils, capturing the atmosphere and beauty of the place I called home. That painting went on to win 1st place at the school art show. Years later, after Hurricane Katrina devastated our home in 2005, that same painting became the only artwork to survive the storm. It remains one of the most meaningful pieces I have ever created—a reminder of resilience, memory, and the lasting power of art.
After Katrina, life shifted toward rebuilding. I entered the commercial plumbing trade and focused on long workdays, trade school, and rebuilding a future. For nearly seven years, art took a back seat as work consumed most of my time and energy. But the passion for creating never disappeared.
What brought me back to painting was something deeply personal. While creating a painting of my father fishing after he passed away, I realized how powerful art could be. The piece was made for my mother—a way to honor his memory and bring comfort through a peaceful image of him in a better place. Every brushstroke carried emotion, memory, and healing. That painting reignited something inside me.
My wife encouraged me to continue creating, and soon family members began requesting paintings of their own. One memorable piece was a painting of my mother-in-law and her husband gator hunting, created as a Christmas gift. That single painting sparked a chain reaction of commissions and requests from family and friends. Before long, people were asking for a “Sakowski Original.”
That phrase inspired the creation of “Sakowski Original Artworks,” a name representing not just paintings, but personal stories, Southern culture, family memories, and emotional connection through art.
As my work grew, I was asked to create a large tribute mural honoring Dr. John after his passing. It became one of my largest and most meaningful projects to date. About two years later, I entered the River Road Art Show and received an Honorable Mention award among many talented artists. That recognition—and the feeling of seeing others connect with my work—confirmed what I had been slowly rediscovering all along.
Art was never something I truly left behind. It has always been part of who I am.
Today, my artwork reflects the people, landscapes, traditions, and memories that shape Louisiana life. Whether through bayou scenes, wildlife, portraits, murals, or storytelling pieces, my goal is to create artwork that carries emotion, meaning, and authenticity—art that people can connect with and remember for years to come.
Every painting tells a story. Every “Sakowski Original” is created with heart, history, and purpose.