Carmen Macri
Words & Photos by Carmen Macri
“It’s just a blank log, but it’s in there, and all I’m doing is showing the face that’s sitting inside of it.” — Mike Scroggie
The intricate carvings, bold colors and distinct designs of tiki figures add a captivating touch to any space, but they are so much more than home decor. Traditional tikis, usually made of wood or stone, originated in Polynesian culture, particularly within Maori traditions of New Zealand, Hawaii and other Pacific Islands. These carvings — often depicting deities, ancestors or mythological figures — were deeply valued for their spiritual significance, acting as protectors or bridges between the physical and spiritual worlds.
In the mid-20th century, the tiki concept found its way into Western culture through the Tiki bar movement, which started in the United States. It combined Polynesian-inspired décor with exotic cocktails—an all-American twist on tradition.
Today, tiki carvings are widespread across the United States with Florida being a hotspot. In Jacksonville and St. Augustine, one artist, Mike Scroggie, has gained recognition for his unique creations. While working at Jax Palm Trees, he found himself with extra materials and a deep appreciation for tiki art. Much like others who stumble upon a new hobby, Scroggie spent countless hours scouring the internet teaching himself the craft. 
“I liked a lot of what I’d seen. I admired a lot of the artists,” Scroggie shared. “Being in the palm tree business, I had availability to the materials and wanted to try my hand at it, which didn’t turn out like the pictures or the people I admired at first. And kind of created my own style.”
Art comes in many shapes and sizes, with a wide range of forms and mediums to explore. While we often think of paintings when we picture art, sculpting offers a unique and powerful way to express creativity. It turns ideas into three-dimensional forms, letting viewers experience art from different perspectives. By working with materials like stone, wood, metal, or clay, artists bring their visions to life. Sculpting demands both technical skill and a deep understanding of form, space and texture.
Scroggie has been sculpting tikis for over 10 years, and each piece he creates teaches him something new about the art. Early on, he drew inspiration from other artists, focusing on elements he admired—whether it was a headdress, a smile, or the tilt of the eyes. He’d take what he loved from these works and put his own spin on it, blending each influence into his own unique style.
Over time, Scroggie realized that even with a clear vision of his tiki, everything shifts once he’s face-to-face with the wood.
“Sometimes the piece of wood you have in front of you changes everything you thought you had in mind,” Scroggie explained.
He starts by carefully inspecting the wood, ensuring there are no flaws or rotting sections. His process begins with the nose, setting it as the central point to guarantee that the face will be both centered and symmetrical. After establishing this foundation, he begins etching free-formed lines to outline the basic shapes of the eyes and mouth. At this point, he refers to it as looking like “something you etched out with a crayon,” but from there the tiki begins coming to life. Rough lines turn into facial features, and crayon etches turn fine paint brush strokes.
With each tiki, Scroggie reaches a moment where he must decide: continue tweaking and adding more detail or accept the piece as it is. As a perfectionist, it’s tempting to believe that there’s always room for improvement and never be fully satisfied. But over time, Scroggie learned that perfection is elusive. He could endlessly critique his work or choose to appreciate the art he’s created.
“You start seeing this thing in front of you and realize the changes you can make or you can be happy with what sits in front of you,” Scroggie shared. “Sometimes you want to make it a little more expressive than what you originally thought. But happy mistakes create some of the greatest pieces I have ever put forth, the ones I am happiest with myself.”
Although Scroggie isn’t of Polynesian heritage, he’s gained a deep understanding of tiki culture through his years of practice. He’s developed his own style, which he calls Florida Tiki. This style is known for its dropped eyes and often avoids the big, cheesy Polynesian smiles seen in traditional tikis. Scroggie’s approach blends his appreciation for the culture with his personal touch.
“I consider myself a nerd in two things: palm trees and tikis and that does fall into the Polynesian culture and where they come from, the gods, how it was created and the representation of each tiki,” Scroggie explained. “Certain tikis have meanings like pineapple means hospitality and open mouth means no fear. I’ve delved quite a bit. I go to events around the state or anywhere that I can and I frequent tiki bars throughout the States, which isn’t, you know, true Polynesian culture, but it’s part of the game that I’m in.”
Scroggie has started experimenting with new mediums for his Tikis, moving beyond the cabbage palm he usually works with. One of his latest projects involves carving half a Tiki’s face into an old surfboard. But that’s just the start—he is constantly exploring new ways to push his creativity even further.
You can find Scroggie and his tikis at the St Augustine Amphitheater Farmers Market every Saturday or on Instagram @ showmeyourtikis.
Follow FOLIO!