【Book Description】
Raymond Pettibon is one of the most distinctive and influential figures in contemporary American art. Known for his fusion of comic book aesthetics and critical, often sardonic text, Pettibon creates works that exude youthful rebellion while offering sharp, introspective commentary on American society and culture. Although his drawings are often laced with cynicism and black humor, they also express a deep empathy for the chaotic, contradictory nature of humanity, revealing a nuanced perspective that is both critical and compassionate.
Among the many themes Pettibon has explored over the decades, one of the most poetic and philosophically rich is the figure of the surfer. Since 1985, Pettibon has been developing his Surfers series—an ongoing body of work that captures the image of a solitary surfer carving a “line of beauty” along towering, often overwhelming waves. In these works, the surfer becomes a countercultural hero, not just engaged in sport, but embodying a fleeting transcendence. Riding the wave becomes a momentary escape from worldly constraints, a sublime act of communion with nature that is at once distant and synchronized with the chaos of reality. These images provoke reflection on the scale of the human condition—small and fragile in the face of nature’s grandeur.
This volume brings together 100 of Pettibon’s works from the Surfers series, ranging from stark monochrome drawings on paper to vibrant, large-scale wall paintings. Many of these pieces are overlaid with handwritten text—some authored by Pettibon himself, others borrowed from poetry and literature—creating a complex interplay between image and language. These fragments serve not merely as captions, but as critical components of each piece, revealing the artist’s worldview, satirical edge, and philosophical musings on reality, culture, and human nature.
To deepen the reader’s understanding of the series, the book features an essay by Pulitzer Prize-winning author William Finnegan, acclaimed for Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life, and a longtime staff writer for The New Yorker. Drawing on his intimate knowledge of surfing and its cultural significance, Finnegan offers a compelling interpretation of Pettibon’s vision—one that balances the desire for transcendence with the inescapability of reality.
Surfers is far more than a collection of artworks—it is a profound visual meditation on solitude, freedom, and the pursuit of meaning. Through the image of a lone figure facing immense natural forces, Pettibon invites us to confront our own existential questions. This is an essential volume for lovers of contemporary art, visual culture, and those drawn to the intersection of image, language, and inner experience.
【Book Details】
Authors: Raymond Pettibon, Jamie Brisick
Publisher: David Zwirner Books
Dimensions: 31 × 26 cm
Binding: Hardcover
Pages: 160 pages
