Sodaro South Wing

Seen Anew: Featured Artists Section – RICK GRIFFIN

September 30, 2026 – March 7, 2027

Curated by Gordon T. McClelland and Austin D. McClelland

About the Exhibition

About the Artist

California artist Rick Griffin (1944-1991) established a professional art career at age 17 when his legendary comic strip Murphy began to be regularly published in Surfer Magazine starting in 1961.

Examples of Rick’s art from that era can be found in the cases and are courtesy of the McClelland and Hilbert Collections.

From Surf Culture to Psychedelic Rock Art

After being established as a pioneer surf culture artist, Griffin moved to San Francisco and became a leading artistic figure in the mid to late 1960s counterculture hippie movement. His poster and album cover art for the Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Jefferson Airplane, Big Brother and the Holding Company and many other prominent rock musicians is known worldwide.

Exhibition Highlights: Iconic Graphic Art

Thanks to Dennis King of D. King Gallery and other collectors, many of Rick’s finest graphic images are available here in this exhibition. The Hilbert Collection has provided some wonderful Griffin surf- and rock-music-related graphics and has been a consistent collector of this artist’s work.

Faith and Art: Rick Griffin’s Christian-Inspired Works

In 1970 after a personal religious awakening, Rick began incorporating Christian images and messages into his art. A selection of Rick’s epic paintings and graphics used to illustrate a paraphrased version of the Gospel of John by Pastor Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel is also featured in this exhibition. Many thanks to Cindy and Joe Knornschild for graciously lending key works of original Griffin art from the post-1970 era, and specifically the Christian-related images.