WOLFGANG BLOCH WEEKEND AT LAGUNA ART MUSEUM

Billabong will host an exhibition of Wolfgang Bloch’s work at Laguna Art Museum on Saturday and Sunday, October 11 and 12, in conjunction with Chronicle’s release of a book on his life and art.

The book follows the life-path of Wolfgang’s unique childhood in Ecuador, his move to America, his art education, the winding journey through California culture, the surf industry and, eventually, his return back into the world of art.

Written by Mike Stice and designed by renowned graphic designer David Carson, “Wolfgang Bloch: the Colors of Coincidence” is filled with over 50 full-color plates of Bloch’s atmospheric paintings along with photographs and visuals that enrich the story of this artist’s insights and inspirations from childhood environment to 21st Century explorations.

The exhibition will be open to the public October 11-12 from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Signed copies of the book will be available in the Museum store. Both Wolfgang Bloch and Mike Stice will be available on Sunday, October 12, from 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. for personalized book signings.

Wolfgang Bloch was born and raised in the vibrant Latin American culture of Guayaquil, Ecuador. At a young age, Bloch discovered the joy of surfing along Ecuador’s secluded beaches and, in the process, the coastal scenery that would forever serve as his primary source of inspiration.

In the 1982, Bloch immigrated to the United States where he soon graduated with a Bachelor in Fine Arts Degree from the University of Florida and later a Bachelor in Design from the renowned Art Center College of Design.

After enjoying a decade of well-noted commercial success as a designer working for companies like Gotcha Sportswear, Quiksilver, Billabong USA, Jeep, Tower Records, Vans, Hobie and Indian Motorcycles, Bloch dedicated himself to his first love: painting.

Over the past decade, Bloch’s work has been exhibited in the pages of major international publications and on the walls of galleries and museums across the globe.

Today, Bloch lives with his wife and two children in Laguna Beach, California, where he creates the sparing yet commanding works that have garnered him a reputation as one of the surf world’s most respected artists.

“Wolfgang Bloch: The Colors of Coincidence” is the first monograph of Bloch’s work.