Jozza was born in 1958 in Hidrolândia, a small town in central Brazil. His passion for art began at a very young age, inspired by his mother Maria, who was an art teacher. Growing up, he helped his father with his lumber storage business, where he started creating wooden sculptures. Although he initially pursued a law degree in Brazil, Jozza quickly realized his true interest lay in art. At the age of 17, he married, which made it challenging to attend art school due to the economic responsibilities of raising a family.

Jozza’s focus shifted to soccer, and he became a skilled player for Atlético, one of the top state teams. This talent led him to the United States in 1986 when he was invited to play for a Croatian team in San Francisco, California. During his four years there, he also worked in restaurants and eventually opened his own pizzeria. However, in 1990, due to a family issue, he sold his business and returned to Brazil. Throughout this period, his passion for art persisted, and he began experimenting with canvas work, relying solely on his innate talent and inspiration.