was a twenty-two year old surfer still attending
be just the beginning. Van Hamersveld then
Summer” image illustrates the profiles of three
art school, never thinking that this film poster
immersed himself in the rock n’ roll scene,
surfers standing poised with their surfboards
project would have such an incredible, ever-
creating renowned poster art and album design
on the day-glo fire orange sand, as the bright
lasting impact. At the beginning of his prolific
yellow giant sun sits on the horizon under the
career, which continues forward now in its sixth
vibrant magenta sky. Visually articulating the
decade, he himself was embarking on his own
surfers’ wonderment and awe as they gaze
journey into the waters, emerging as a transfor-
upon the vast beach, the image powerfully cap-
mative graphic designer and pop artist.
The brilliant, instantly recognizable “Endless
tures the moment in which the surfers prepare
A timeless representation of surf culture,
to create ubiquitous imagery is applied in the
ues to inspire. His upcoming book, 50 Years of
spirit of postmodern psychology. His fine art
Graphic Design, which is scheduled by Gingko
the psychedelic “Signs of Life” digital projec-
illustrations, designs, and photography provide
Press for release this year, provides a compre-
for the Beatles, Hendrix, and Cream, to name
tion for the Fremont Street Experience in Las
insightful conceptual commentaries on culture
hensive contextual view of his extensive catalog
a few.
Vegas. For “Signs of Life,” he applied digital
as well as on mass media. Van Hamersveld’s
in riding the artistic wave. It also includes an
symbols that he had originally created in the
active artistic process often begins with an
insightful introduction by Shepard Fairey.
imagery, which forms and reflects upon pop
1990s. From psychedelic pop art to identity proj-
intriguing metaphoric narrative. He then simpli-
culture. His artistic imagery for the surf world
ects, Van Hamersveld creates flawless iconic
fies these stories in forming his symbolic, iconic,
Angeles art community, Van Hamersveld has
includes design for Jimmy’z, Gotcha, and Billa-
images, and they become permanently embed-
and reductive imagery.
illustrated a series of covers for LA Pop maga-
ded in our collective consciousness.
Van Hamersveld creates groundbreaking
to embark on their eternal journey and venture
the “Endless Summer” rapidly diffused virally,
bong. It has shaped the aesthetic of Southern
into the ocean. They stand dedicated to their
impacting masses of people across the globe
California surf culture. His rock n’ roll imagery
perpetual pursuit of the perfect wave.
and throughout the decades as surf culture
Fifty years ago, when John Van Hamersveld created the iconic “Endless Summer” poster, he
28 | LA POP
FEB/MAR 2013
You Get is integral to punk rock style. Also, in 2009, Van Hamersveld designed
Now, as the fiftieth anniversary of the
Sharing his remarkable legacy with the Los
zine because his iconic art aesthetic embodies
A highly influential member of the LA pop
“Endless Summer” image is currently being cel-
the essence and philosophy of LA pop itself. For
for the Rolling Stone’s Exile on Main Street,
art community, Van Hamersveld creates images
ebrated with an anniversary edition poster, we
this current edition, Van Hamersveld’s “Thinker”
exploded with the remarkable power of this
Blondie’s Eat to the Beat, and Public Image
in a diverse range of styles and in multiple
can more fully appreciate the enduring legacy
reflects philosophically on the intuitive nature of
ubiquitous image. Yet, this image proved to
Ltd.’s This Is What You Want… This Is What
forms of media. His effective usage of media
Van Hamersveld’s work provides as he contin-
referential, reductive, pop art.
FEB/MAR 2013
LA POP | 29