About Roy Gonzalez

Welcome to the world of the incomparable Roy Gonzalez – artist, storyteller, poet, producer – creator.  For over forty years the reclusive Gonzalez has created some of the most definitive and recognizable images of the surf, sub-culture, and music industries.

Vivid and humorous with meticulous detailing, Gonzalez’s creates brilliant, mind-blowing art on the cutting edge of extreme.  A champion surfer, freethinker and music aficionado Gonzalez fuses satirical commentary into a world where art, music, waves and politics collide.

A surf artist who lives an authentic life, often off the grid surfing and creating in far off beaches around the globe, the enigmatic Gonzalez has returned to his Southern California home with a new art collection, autobiography, animation series in development and a new retail brand, Gonzalez Artz.

From creator of 80’s popular Surf Crazed comics to posters for top professional surfing events including the “Op Pro,” “Pipeline Backdoor Shootout,” “Boost Mobile Pro” and many others, Gonzalez’s work has long been the standard by which new generations surf artists are measured. In 2009, the Nike  6.0 sponsored “Roy Gonzalez Art Extravaganza” exhibition was the featured closing event for the NRG Award winning “Nike Motel No-Tell” summer long marketing event.  Gonzalez custom designed the hotel rooms and hosted several promotional events over a three-week period, making it one of the brand’s most successful promotions to date.

Beyond the surf, Roy’s unique character interpretation is the basis for his work in the music industry, which includes posters for Blues and Rock-n-Roll events and many album covers, most notably, Etta James’ Matriarch of the Blues. Gonzalez’s Saints and Iconz of Cool are collections of portraits depicting stars like Elvis, Johnny Cash, B.B. King, Snoop Dogg, Amy Winehouse and many more.  The Iconz collections are part of Gonzalez’ entry into the NFT art market, soon to be available on the new high-end, Avant Thomas NFT marketplace.

Appreciated for his detailed artistic styling as well as his creative storytelling, the unique combination art and entertainment in Gonzalez’s work has led to award winning marketing campaigns and feature film development.  His Attack of the Killer Wave animation for FUEL TV Signature Series, won both Gold and Silver Promax Awards, the world’s premier celebration of outstanding achievement in entertainment marketing and design, in 2008.

Gonzalez’s Monster Island comic series has long been a fan favorite with comic and t-shirt sales across the globe.  His Monster parties and lyrics jumped off the page and led to the creation of popular Southern California 80’s band, Johnny Monster and the Nightmares.  The Monsters remain among Roy’s most popular works and is part of his multiple content properties currently being developed for a major animation project.

A natural storyteller with a life full of wild adventures, Gonzalez’s artobiography Roy’s Real Tales takes readers on a fun, honest and often unbelievable ride through the life of a counter-culture surfing artist icon.  Originally self-published in 2009 and currently revised as an autobiographic blog, Roy’s Real Tales has been reviewed as a modern-day Kerouac’s On the Road,  and is being republished as an art infused coffee table book in 2022.

Gonzalez is a founder of multiple businesses, producer of legendary events, and a philanthropist dedicated to bringing good to the world with an ever-present goal of spreading the “stoke of the lifestyle” to world.

Even paints better on a board – Laguna Beach locals Mural
Roy with Kelly Slater
Roy Surfing

Video

Roy’s Journey

Roy with Larry Bertleman, Ben and Duke Aipa
Roy with Greg Escalante, Suzane and Robert Williams
Roy with motocross legends Evel Knievel and Trigger Gumm
Roy and Magic Johnson
Mural launch event at Rancho Diablo Restaurant in Playa Grande, Costa Rica, 1999 with Nathan and Christian Fletcher, Johnathan Paskowitz, Matt Archbold and Perry Ferrell
1978. First NSSA National Champ

Roy Gonzalez Artist Vitae

  • AWARDS

    Color It Orange – First Place, 1979 for “The Beatles”

    Saddleback College – First Place, 1980 for “Fairy Stipple”

    ASR Snowboarder – Graphic of the Year, 1992 for “Sensimilla Street”

    Promax Broadcast Awards – Gold & Silver, 2008 for “Attack of the Killer Wave” Fuel TV Animation

  • EXHIBITIONS

    Kustom Kulture Show

    Laguna Art Museum

    Laguna Beach, CA

    1993

    Roy with John Van Hamersveld

    El Chinca Dero Gallery

    Laguna Beach, CA

    1995

    Surf Culture: The Art History of Surfing

    Laguna Art Museum

    Laguna Beach, CA

    2003

    Nike Motel No-Tell

    Nike 6.0

    San Clemente, CA

    2009

    Old Dogs, New Tricks Show

    Carnival – Rock, Surf Art Show

    Mexican Rivera

    2009

    Kustom Kulture Reunion Show

    Huntington

    Huntington Beach, CA

    2012

    Roy Retrospective

    Art Sub Kult Gallery

    San Clemente, CA

    2014

    Surf Rock & Ride 40 Years of Roy

    California Surf Museum

    Oceanside, CA

    2016

    Surf Art Show

    Copro Gallery

    Santa Monica, CA

    2016

  • CAREER HIGHLIGHTS – PART I

    COMIC CONTRIBUTOR

    Surfing Magazine

    San Clemente, CA

    1978-1988

    COMIC CONTRIBUTOR

    Surfer Magazine

    San Clemente, CA

    1978-1988

    EVENT POSTER

    Awards Banquet

    NSSA

    USA

    1979

    MURAL

    Bienvenidos

    SC  Bar & Grill

    Dominical, CR

    1985

    COMMISSIONED ART

    Billabong Logo

    Billabong Surf Co.

    Global

    1986

    EVENT POSTER

    RedHot Chili Pep, Beastie Boys

    Fundraiser

    Los Angeles, CA

    1986

    COMMISSIONED ART

    Wave Warriors Video Cover

    Astro deck

    USA

    1987

    EVENT POSTER

    Malibu Tribute to the Greats

    Malibu Surfing Assoc.

    Malibu, CA

    1987

    COMMISSIONED ART

    Monster Island Collection

    Sunshine Designs

    Global

    1988

    COMMISSIONED ART

    Christian Fletcher Logo

    Christian Fletcher Surf

    San Clemente, CA

    1989

    COMIC BOOK CREATOR

    Surf Crazed Comics

    Self Published

    San Clemente, CA

    1989-1991

    COMMISSIONED ART

    Alva Logo

    Alva Skateboards

    Global

    1990

    COMMISSIONED ART

    Rector Logo

    Rector Knee Pads

    Global

    1990

    EVENT POSTER

    Mexican Surfing Fiesta

    Flojos

    Ensenada, Mexico

    1991

    EVENT POSTER

    Orange County Blues Festival

    Dana Point, CA

    1994

    EVENT POSTER

    OP Pro Surf Contest

    Ocean Pacific Clothing

    Huntington Bch, CA

    1995

    EVENT POSTER

    Life Guard  Launch & Logo

    CR LifeGuard Assoc.

    Costa Rica

    1995

    EVENT POSTER

    Rancho Diablo Surf Contest

    Gotcha & Billabong

    Guanacaste, CR

    1998

    MURAL

    Aloha From Hell

    Rancho Diablo

    Guanacaste, CR

    1998

    EVENT POSTER

    Doheny Blues Festival

    Dana Point, CA

    1999

    ALBUM COVER

    Etta James Matriach

    Etta James

    Los Angeles, CA

    2000

    EVENT POSTER

    Fear & DI Aloha From Hell

    FAB Productions

    California

    2000

    EVENT POSTER

    USA Surfing Championship

    NSSA

    USA

    2000

  • CAREER HIGHLIGHTS – PART II

    COMMISSIONED ART

    Surfboard Auctions

    Surfer’s Healing

    Los Angeles, CA

    2001-2005

    EVENT POSTER

    Russian River Blues Festival

    Guerneville, CA

    2001

    EVENT POSTER

    Malibu Classic Surf Contest

    Malibu Surfing Assoc.

    Malibu, CA

    2001

    ALBUM COVER

    D.I. Caseyology

    D.I. Band

    Los

    2002

    EVENT POSTER

    Back Door Shootout

    The Hui

    Pipeline, Hawaii

    2002

    EVENT POSTER

    Mexstraviganza

    Rock n Roll Surf Circus

    Cabo, Mexico

    2002

    COMMISSIONED ART

    The Misfits Surf Movie

    Art Brewer

    Global

    2003

    EVENT POSTER

    Marilyn Manson

    Billboard Music Club

    Los Angeles, CA

    2005

    COMMISSIONED ART

    Logo

    Orange County Hot Rod

    Orange County, CA

    2006

    EVENT POSTER

    Reggae Festival

    BCS

    Todos Satos , Mex

    2006

    EVENT POSTER

    Boost Mobile Surf Contest

    Boost Mobile

    San Clemente, CA

    2007

    EVENT POSTER

    Zip It Rip It Surf Contest

    Blackheart Brotherhood

    San Jose Del Cabo

    2007

    EVENT POSTER

    B.B. King Concert

    Billboard Music Club

    Los Angeles, CA

    2007

    ANIMATION

    Attack of the Killer Wave

    Fuel TV Signature Series

    USA

    2008

    EVENT POSTER

    Nike Golden Spike Trestles

    Nike 6.0

    San Clemente, CA

    2009

    EVENT POSTER

    High Times Festival

    High Times Magazine

    USA

    2012

    MURAL

    Tribute to history of Laguna

    Laguna Riviera Resort

    Laguna Beach, CA

    2013

    EVENT POSTER

    Archy The Movie

    Documentary

    Los Angeles, CA

    2014

    COMMISSIONED ART

    Footsteps to Freedom Boots

    Art Basel

    Miami, FL

    2015

    COMMISSIONED ART

    Duke Kahanamoku S Board

    Surfboards on Parade

    Huntington Bch, CA

    2016

    COMMISSIONED ART

    Voice of the Moon Book

    Bob Preist, Author

    Indonesia

    2017

    MURAL

    Surfing USA

    Wide Open Walls

    Sacramento, CA

    2017

    COMMISSIONED ART

    Liquid Magic

    Liquid Magic Surf Resort

    Dominical, CR

    2018

    COMMISSIONED ART

    Jake Phelps Skateboard

    Thrasher Mag Tour

    USA

    2019

    EVENT POSTER

    Shipwrecked Lost Tour

    Tunnel Vison & Lost

    US & Central Am.

    2019

    MURAL

    Nika Dreams

    La Jolla de Guasacate

    Popoyo, Nicaragua

    2019

    COMMISSIONED ART

    Blessed Up

    Private Collector

    Dominical, CR

    2020

    COMMISSIONED ART

    Book Art – Kalohe Andino

    Mayhem Surf Boards

    San Clemente, CA

    2021

    COMMISSIONED ART

    Clarence Avant

    Private Collector

    Los Angeles, CA

    2021

    COMMISSIONED ART

    Quincy Jones

    Private Collector

    Los Angeles, CA

    2021

  • EDUCATION

    Laguna College of Art and Design