An upcoming exhibition at Tim Bessell's surfboard shop and gallery in La Jolla will showcase surf-inspired works by a group of artists connected by their shared love of surfing and the ocean. The show, expected to open in the first week of June, features painter, sculptor, photographer, and mixed-media artists, including Joel Pessoa, Tim Bessell, Robin Bessell, Shaun Donovan, and Steve Sherman. Pessoa will display wood carvings from Portugal and paintings from his time in La Jolla, while Bessell—an internationally known surfboard maker and artist—will also exhibit his own works, alongside his wife Robin's floral mixed-media pieces and informal contributions from his daughter Natalie.
This exhibition matters because it highlights the intersection of surfing culture and visual art in La Jolla, a community intimately tied to the ocean. By bringing together artists with diverse practices but a common passion, the show celebrates local craftsmanship and creative expression, reinforcing the role of small galleries and surf shops as vital spaces for community-driven art. It also underscores the enduring influence of surf culture on contemporary art, as seen in Bessell's past Warhol-inspired surfboard collaborations.