This exhibition is an extension of a collaboration between Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA) and The California Surf Museum (CSM). This inaugural partnership between OMA and CSM brings together two Oceanside institutions with complementary missions—OMA’s dedication to showcasing contemporary art by Southern California artists and CSM’s global perspective on surf culture—in a unified celebration of surf-inspired art rooted in Oceanside’s coastal lifestyle.

This exhibition explores the creative expressions that have emerged from the surf lifestyle, focusing on the unique lens of artists who live and work in Southern California—the birthplace of modern surf culture. “Surfing is part of a defining identity of California’s image. It’s had an indelible effect on global society,” says Jim Kempton, Executive Director of CSM and co-curator of the exhibition. “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”. It seems that only through creative self-expression can surfer-artists capture the essence of stoke and the inspiration that can be found between the surfer and the wave.”

Surf Art offers a compelling and cohesive view of surf art as both a personal expression and a cultural phenomenon, diving deep into the visual language and creative expression of surf culture. At OMA West, the selected works further the exhibition’s ability to present a new generation of creators making waves in and out of the water. The works on view go far beyond waves and boards—they’ll embody the essence of surf: freedom, rebellion, connection, and passion. Every artist in the show is a surfer whose art is shaped by time in the ocean and the culture that surrounds it.

Featured artists: Aaron Checkwood, Kori Gabs, Kevin Ginther, George Goodrich, Sean Keany, John Linthurst, Bryce Nihill, Therese M. Nugent, Randy Roberts, Cam Schiff & Grandson Ronan, and Fay Wyles.

This is an extension of Surf Art: Exploring Southern California's Coastal Culture on view at OMA August 23, 2025-February 1, 2026, and at The California Surf Museum September 13, 2025-February 1, 2026.

Artwork at the top of the page, right: Kevin Ginther, Wash Machine, 2023. Acrylic, 48" x 36".