Key West Photographer Michael Procaccini
Michael Procaccini
Key West Photo/Artist Michael Procaccini
I was born and raised in northern Ohio and grew up in a boating family with our summers spent in the Lake Erie Islands, and our winter vacations in search of sunshine. I had no idea that the seed that was being planted at that time would some day take me to this little island in the Florida Keys and would then become a home for me.
One of my earliest and fondest memories of the keys was as a young boy traveling across the Seven Mile Bridge for the first time. As the co-pilot of our families motorhome, I was so entranced by the emotion and feeling of what felt like flying over the ocean, that the fear that had taken over my father behind the wheel, as we traveled over this narrow bridge really never registered.
As a student studying photography, then shooting and developing black and white film, I along with the rest of the world became fan and a study of the famous Photographer Ansel Adams. The transition to full color photography was destined for me as our family began to vacation more consistently in the Florida Keys and Key West. The ever changing colors of the ocean, based on the time of day, time of year, and weather conditions, fascinated me.
My appreciation for art expanded as I met artists from all over the world that had the ability to take a body of water, a landscape, a seascape, and stop time in their own way by putting that moment onto canvas with brush and paint.
Twenty years passed making Key West one of my favorite winter destinations seeking blue skies, torques oceans, and swaying palms. With all the wonderful island destinations from the Caribbean to the top of a volcano on the island of Maui, it was the complete atmosphere of Key West that called me most.
After a long career of doing what "I had to do" to make a living for myself and my family, it was now time to do what "I wanted to do". Both of my amazing boys were headed into college and it was time to make the move to Key West. My first gallery, Key West Art Gallery & Gifts on Green St, set the foundation for the move to Duval Street and the creation of "Art On Duval Key West, A Procaccini Gallery".
The love of everything Key West, the artists, photographers, musicians, writers and all of the quirky characters combined are why this little island has a permanent hold on my life.
I look forward to meeting you, I hope you enjoy all of the work that we display in the gallery, and we are always honored when our work makes it into your home.
"Follow your heart, pursue your dreams, always plan for the future, but live for today"
Michael Procaccini