Andy Warhol x Tim Bessell 'Skull'

Artist: Andy Warhol x Tim Bessell  Title: Skull Medium: Surfboard Size: 78 × 20 × 2 1/2 in | 198.1 × 50.8 × 6.4 cm Edition: Edition of 12 + 4AP  Year: 2012 Notes:  In October 2012, Andy Warhol's 1970s film San Diego Surf debuted at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, perfectly aligning with the release of the first series of Warhol Bessell Surfboards, handcrafted by Tim Bessell. His Artist Series surfboards pay tribute to renowned artists and are a collaboration with the Warhol Foundation, blending Warhol’s iconic graphics with Bessell’s famous surfboard shapes.  Tim Bessell, a contemporary American artist, is renowned for his handmade surfboards, having shaped over 46,000 throughout his career. Beyond surfboards, Bessell has also made a mark in painting, sculpture, furniture design, and clothing.  A longtime admirer of Warhol, Bessell met the artist in his youth while studying at San Diego State University. The collaboration with the Warhol Foundation felt like a natural progression, especially after Bessell’s early encounter with Warhol. As Bessell recalls, “Andy lived down the street from me in La Jolla in 1967, and my mom, an artist, would often point out his work. Later, I had the chance to meet him in New York through mutual connections, which led to ongoing collaboration.”  In 2012, Bessell reached out to the Warhol Foundation to propose the creation of Warhol-themed surfboards, a plan which was approved, leading to the launch of these iconic boards.