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.
Roy’s Journey
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
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 |
COMIC CONTRIBUTOR |
Surfing Magazine |
San Clemente, CA |
1978-1988 |
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COMIC CONTRIBUTOR |
Surfer Magazine |
San Clemente, CA |
1978-1988 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
COMMISSIONED ART |
Surfboard Auctions |
Surfer’s Healing |
Los Angeles, CA |
2001-2005 |
EVENT POSTER |
Russian River Blues Festival |
2001 |
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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 |
Laguna College of Art and Design