The “Da Vinci of Surfing” inducted into the Surfing Walk of Fame

Kudos for surf culture artist Phil Roberts - news supplied by Scott McNeely:

Surf Culture Artist Phil Roberts Inducted into Surfing Walk of Fame

Huntington Beach, CA July 30, 2026: Renowned surf culture artist, Phil Roberts, was formally welcomed into the Surfing Walk of Fame yesterday, celebrating his lifelong contributions to chronicling surf history through major sculptures and paintings.

Phil Roberts, often referred to as 'the DaVinci of Surfing,' is a significant figure in surf culture known for his whimsical characters and diverse styles. He's created movie posters for Hollywood, bronze sculptures for municipalities, and the internationally esteemed trophy boards for the Pipe Masters. His artwork is featured in the International Surfing Museum, including portraits of famous surfers like Stephanie Gilmore and Kelly Slater.  He was inducted into the Huntington Beach Surfing Walk of Fame only July 30, 2026, in recognition of his decades of memorializing and contributing to surf culture worldwide.

Roberts' iconic work includes Pipe Master’s annual bronze trophy created in 1997 (every Champion in 50 years of the event has one), featuring a bust of Gerry Lopez.  His monumental bronze statue of surfing legend Dewey Weber, based on an iconic photograph, stands in front of the Hermosa Beach Community Center.

Beyond his surf culture work, Roberts has created Hollywood movies posters for over 40 years. His work has graced films such as Bad News Bears, The Rugrats Movie, and Detroit Rock City. His beautiful scientific illustrations of wave dynamics have also been featured in museums and publications worldwide.

A true renaissance man, Phil designed and crafted a set of unique Fabergé-like eggs. The small egg was on featured display in the private museum at GIA, the large carousel Egg was a full display at the San Diego National History Museum for 5 years, with a value estimated of over $3.5 million.

Phil continues to create art for projects worldwide and his unbridled passion for the surfing community will live on as long as there are waves in the ocean.