Born and raised in the Midwest. Michael Roche graduated from Elmira College in New York with a degree in Art Education and later studied at the Ontario College of Art. For over twenty-five years he has worked as a commercial sculptor creating fine art pieces for such notable clients as Warner Brothers, MGM, 7-up, Pillsbury and Enesco. For Michael, creating a successful series involves intense research. His unique sensitivity for detail, accuracy and motif has earned him world-wide recognition.

Sculptor, Michael Roche is...

• The first winner of the prestigious "Art of Golf Award" presented by Golf Digest for sculpture in November of 2001
• Commissioned by the USA Hockey for gifts and awards with the first presentation to be given at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah
• A talent whose work can be found in the Hockey and Basketball Halls of Fame as well as golf's distinguished St. Andrew's Links Clubhouse
• A sculptor commissioned by the founding family of basketball to create the Naismith Award for sportsmanship. The first recipient of this award was the athlete of the century, Michael Jordan
• The designer of the Al Mooring Leadership award for emergency extrication in the Fire Service
• An artist whose work was nominated for the 1990 "Figurine of the Year" by Collector Edition Magazine
  

More information regarding Michael Roche and his award winning scupltures may be found on his studio's website.

In 1988 Michael was commisioned to sculpt a Wizard of Oz line for Dave Grossman Creations, Inc. of St. Louis, Missouri. The series included "cold cast" (resin) sculptures in two sizes and Christmas ornaments.

Dorothy, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion and the Tin Man, which Michael titled "Four Followers" were the first introductions. Roche continued with the Mayor of Munchkinland, the Wicked Witch of the West, and the Winged Monkey. Also added to the line were Glinda the Good Witch, the Wizard of Oz, Coroner, and the Lollipop Kid.

• The Wicked Witch was nominated for Figurine of the Year in 1990 by New York based Collector Editions Magazine.

Mike has attended The Yellow Brick Road Gift Shop's MunchkinLand Market Days, held annually in September, since 1995 and has thrilled attendees by graciously waiving his standard $20 signing fee when they purchase a sculpture or bring in any of his pieces for him to sign.

In more recent years, the Yellow Brick Road Gift Shop was fortunate enough to commision Michael Roche to expand on the Wizard of Oz pieces, especially our beloved Munchkin friends. In 2006 we introduced a limited edition of "Munchkin Townslady" which was fashioned after Margaret Pellegrini which has been a MunchkinLand Market Days/Oz Festival staple since 1983.

Margaret Pellegrini, Munchkin from the movie The Wizard of Oz, and award winning sculptor, Michael Roche, signing Munchkin Townslady sculpture.  Sorry, the Townslady figurine was a limited edition of only 100 and is sold out.