2011 ARTIST
Each year, an artist is asked by the event chairs to donate their time and a piece of art to represent the Luau & Longboard Invitational on t-shirts, posters and other materials. The artwork is auctioned at the Luau. All proceeds are donated to the Moores UCSD Cancer Center.
The 18th Annual Luau & Longboard Invitational proudly announces the selection of Robb Havassy as the 2011 Event Artist.
If Matisse or Picasso had grown up surfing, golfing and living in Southern California, they may likely have turned out like Robb Havassy.
A former international fashion model for the likes of Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Christian Dior and Armani, Robb Havassy, a graduate of U.C. Irvine with a BA in psychology, began his formal painting career in 1996 after receiving a beginner’s art kit as a 26th birthday present. Up until that point, Havassy’s artistic expressions had been more or less taking photographs around the world in his travels, and painting his surfboards, but did not really include any formal canvases.
Entirely self -taught, his first “traditional” painting was a small surfing portrait of Duke Kahanamoku for photographer and friend Bruce Weber. 12 years and more than 2,000 painting’s later, the success that followed Havassy’s first little watercolor has been manifold, garnering him both national and international acclaim, highly regarded for his brilliant use of color as well as his eclectic mix of style, motion and inspirational subject matter. Recently Havassy has begun to showcase his photography as well as a new sculpture series, which has become a new passion.
Havassy is highly regarded for his sports portraits of the likes of Ben Hogan, Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. Though, it is his refreshingly original depictions of women, landscapes, flowers, children and animals that have garnered him the most attention. To have created a truly unique and recognizable style in an era where knock-offs are commonplace, is an achievement in and of itself. Robb has managed both in a very short time. The Southern California native’s list of collaborations with brands in the surf-skate community include work with Reef, Op, HURLEY, Surfrider Foundation, GLOBE, Sector 9, NVOHK, HOWE Jeans, Robert August, SIMA and SURFTECH, etc..
The recent launch of the HAVASSY “eco-friendly”, signature sandal line, is just another step forward toward a more socially and environmentally forward lifestyle, continually overlapping life with art and vice versa…”ART 4 LIFE is pretty much how I live…I can’t really separate the two…that’s what being an artist is really about for me. I wanted to take a great idea and make it even better,” says Havassy. “The concept and design of my footwear is creatively similar to the sandals I did with Reef, updated with eco-friendly bio-foam, along with improvement in the design.”
The Havassy Eco/Art sandal line is one in a long list of unique ways RH has mixed art and life…Havassy’s “artist series” of skateboards with Sector 9 has been one of the most popular editions in the legendary skate brands history. The new “Havassy Art model” surfboard with ROBERT AUGUST surfboards is one of the most simple, beautiful and versatile waveriding vehicles ever. The basic model is a 5 ft. 8 in., by 20 in. wide hybrid, “rocket fish” inspired, hand-shaped beauty…The Cola-Cola colored model features a fire-engine red resin tint and a white hand-painted Havassy signature Sun/SOL, which wraps from bottom to top…No less than six artisans collaborated to produce each and every one of these…”I think one of the coolest and most beautiful single features on the board is the mahogany/resin tinted tail block…it’s one of the keys to why this the modern swallowtail is so amazing. The goal in creating this shape was to make the ultimate wave riding machine…a board that you could rip and flow on mushy slow waves, could handle some juice and a more powerful wave, as well as riding the tube like a dream,” Havassy describes. “To say that we succeeded is an understatement…this board is all that and more…The decision for those who’ve purchased this collector’s item is whether to put it on the wall or surf on it. As a literal piece of art it works both ways, but in my opinion it’s made to surf…It’s pretty much all I ride anymore, and after having one of the greatest tube-riding sessions of my life earlier this year at Witch’s Rock, by myself on it, I don’t really need to ride anything else…I love it!”
Like any responsible surfer/artist, Havassy has balanced his commercial success with a devotion to social and environmental concerns. Over the past decade, Havassy has helped raise more than $100,000 in philanthropic contributions with his continuing support of and collaboration with the Surfrider Foundation, Heal the Bay, Surf Aid International, Boarding for Breast Cancer in addition to dozens of other domestic and international non-profit organizations dedicated to social and environmental causes. One of the latest and most exciting ventures that Havassy is working on is a massive project called SURF STORY. SURF STORY is a book/exhibition including art and surf stories by more than 70 surfers/artists/writers/icons from the culture. The book and exhibition feature the largest collection of surf art and surf stories ever presented. The 400+ page hard-cover coffee table book will contain more than 200 pieces of surf art, and over 150 surf stories from an incredible list of contributors.
Dick baker, CEO of OP and SIMA president…
“Robb is both an amazing artist and true waterman, as he reflects the authenticity and soul of the sport thru his creative work….He is a legend in the world of surf art and his work has been an integral part of the lifestyle of the sport.”
SIMA director Sean Smith…
“It goes without saying that Robb is a very talented artist and that his work is absolutely stunning,” said Sean Smith, executive director of the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA). “We are doubly blessed in that Robb is not only talented, but also a passionate surfer who cares about the ocean.”
To see more of Robb’s artwork, please visit his website.
Thank you to our 2008-2011 Luau & Longboard Invitational’s title sponsor, Pfizer La Jolla.
