Michael K Hewlett, aka Mike Hewlett, founder of Yatzi Studio & Gallery and is developing The Yatzi Arts Foundation is a Phoenix, AZ based abstract artist, that focuses on a theme of "Tranquility Interrupted". Paintings include a Certificate of Authenticity (COA), float frames, and insured shipping. All work is one-of-one and he accepts custom commissons. Standard sizes are 36 x 24 or 24 x 18 priced below $2000. Commissions can be any size and prices vary.
Yatzi Studio & Gallery
Tranquility Interrupted
Whimsical
Paintings that invite viewers to slow down, look longer, and discover what emerges.
Michael Hewlett
Yatzi Studio & Gallery Professional Affiliations
International Association of Art - USA
AIAP-UNESCO Affiliation
College Art Association of America, Inc.
Artlink Articipant
Yatzi Distinction
Original Works
Every Painting is One of One
Commission
Abstract & whimsical commissons on request
Presentation
Each piece includes a black float frame and is ready to hang
Pricing
Intended to be affordable,
collection begins at $1,000
Certificate of Authenticity
Museum-style COA included
Shipping
Professional packaging &
insured delivery included
Original One of One Paintings
Collector Reflections
Cheryl S
You have a keen eye for detail and translation to abstract and whimsey. Your talent is amazing! I am proud to be the owner of a beautiful "Yatzi!"
Robert B
Yatzi Studio & Gallery has a distinctive, deeply personal artistic voice. Each painting reveals something new over time, and every original reflects a unique moment in Michael’s evolving journey—once it’s gone, it can’t be recreated.”
Wendy E
I couldn’t be more thrilled with my commissioned painting, “A Glimpse of Delilah.” I gave Michael Hewlett creative freedom, asking only for muted colors and a subtle reference to my cat. The result is spectacular: a rich raspberry background, striking Prussian Blue vase, delicate roses and forget-me-nots, and Delilah’s realistic paw adding the perfect touch of whimsy. It hangs proudly in my living room. It’s a Yatzi—I love it!
Steve M
There’s an authenticity in Yatzi’s paintings that feels genuine and unforced. Each piece reflects an evolving artistic vision, and as originals are collected, opportunities to acquire work from this period naturally become more limited.
The Making of a Yatzi
Every Yatzi painting begins long before the final brushstroke. Each original is created on a professional-grade gallery style canvas, thoughtfully finished, and arrives beautifully presented in a black float frame—ready to hang and enjoy. Commissioned paintings may have custom canvas sizes, float frame included.
Every artwork is accompanied by a signed Certificate of Authenticity featuring a unique Yatzi artwork identification, affirming its originality and place within the Yatzi collection. Shipping and shipping insurance are included in the purchase price, so your painting arrives safely from the studio to your home.
But every painting also has a story.
The links below take you behind the scenes, where you’ll discover the inspiration, creative decisions, triumphs, and occasional surprises that transformed a blank canvas into a finished work of art. Along the way, you’ll see photographs captured throughout the creative process—offering a rare glimpse into how each Yatzi comes to life.
Enjoy the journey from first idea to finished original artwork.
Mission Statement
Yatzi Studio & Gallery in Phoenix, AZ creates original abstract paintings that invite reflection through emotional depth, atmospheric intrigue, and thoughtful craftsmanship. We are committed to authenticity, originality, and building lasting relationships with collectors by creating artwork meant to be experienced, treasured, and passed from one generation to the next.
About the Studio
Yatzi Studio & Gallery was founded on the belief that original art has the power to transform both spaces and perspectives. We create one-of-a-kind contemporary abstract paintings that invite reflection, evoke emotion, and encourage personal interpretation. Rather than following trends or producing editions, we focus exclusively on authentic original works, each created to establish a lasting connection with its collector.
The Creative Process
Every Yatzi painting begins as an exploration rather than a predetermined destination. Layers of acrylic, spray paint, texture, and mark-making are carefully built, refined, and sometimes reimagined until the composition reveals its own visual and emotional balance. This process embraces experimentation and discovery, allowing each work to develop its own distinctive character. The result is an original painting with depth, atmosphere, and craftsmanship designed to be appreciated for generations.
Michael K Hewlett - Contemporary Abstract Painter in Phoenix, AZ
Some artists spend a lifetime knowing they were destined to paint. Michael Hewlett took a different path.
For decades, Michael built a career as a corporate controller, helping businesses make sense of numbers, systems, and strategy. A graduate of the University of Southern California, his journey has carried him far from the small Midwestern town where he grew up, through homes in London, Los Angeles, Guam, and, for the past two decades, Phoenix, Arizona.
Then something unexpected happened.
The spreadsheets gave way to spray paint. Financial reports became canvases. Precision met imagination.
Painting became more than a creative outlet—it became a way of telling stories that words could never fully capture.
Michael is both a cancer survivor and a heart attack survivor, experiences that shaped not only his outlook on life but also the philosophy behind every Yatzi painting at Yatzi Studio & Gallery. His work is rooted in resilience, emotion, and the quiet beauty found in imperfection, drawing deeply from his journey in Phoenix, Arizona. Rich textures, layered color, and unexpected details are never accidents - they are reminders that life's most meaningful moments rarely arrive polished or predictable, and they define the soulful character of Yatzi Studio & Gallery.
Perfection, Michael believes, is an illusion. Character is created by the marks, scars, and surprises we collect along the way. Every painting embraces that truth.
The name Yatzi has an equally unexpected story. It belonged first to a tiny Chihuahua adopted from the county animal shelter. The dog arrived with the unusual name, and it simply fit. Over time, Yatzi became much more than the family pet—it became the artistic identity behind Michael’s work and the signature carried by every original painting.
Each Yatzi artwork invites you to slow down, look a little longer, and discover your own story within the layers of color and texture. No two viewers experience a painting in exactly the same way—and that’s exactly the point.
Yatzi Studio & Gallery was founded on a simple belief:
Our lives are imperfect. Our stories are unfinished. There is beauty in both.
The studio - and a small private gallery - are located in Michael's home in Phoenix, AZ. As the heart of Yatzi Studio & Gallery, this intimate space remains intentionally private to preserve a quiet, focused environment for creation. Fortunately for the neighbors (and the HOA), tour buses searching for a Yatzi autograph have not yet become a problem, so the address remains private. If you'd like to experience the artwork in person before making a purchase, private viewings are happily arranged by appointment.
If you’re curious about Michael’s professional background before paint replaced spreadsheets, you’ll also find a link to his LinkedIn profile elsewhere on this website.
Thank you for visiting Yatzi Studio & Gallery. I hope somewhere among these paintings you discover a story that feels like your own.