A dual exhibition at the California Surf Museum and Oceanside Museum of Art, Surf Art: Exploring California’s Coastal Culture explores the deep-rooted influence of surfing on the artists and artwork inspired by the vibrant beach lifestyle.
Surfing is part of a defining identity of California’s image and has had an indelible effect on global society. Everyone who has experienced the feeling of riding a wave understands just how hard it is to describe that incredible sensation, referred to as “stoke.” Through creative self-expression, surf artists capture that essence of stoke and the inspiration that can be found between the surfer and the wave.
These exhibits feature a variety of media, from traditional art making methods to works in resin, murals, surfboards, graphic art, sculpture, or fabric, all with the goal to convey the creative power that all artists experience, on or off the wave. Spotlighting the unique contributions of Southern California artists and showcasing their deep connection to the region’s iconic coastal culture, work was limited to artists in the Southern California coastal genre and artists from the region who are imbedded in the surf culture now or in the past.
