2026 Surf Art Calendar - Zen Del Rio
- tonyrogondino
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
January
“Southern Wind”
By: Zen Del Rio
STORY BEHIND THE IMAGE
Dream scape hand painted ceramic tile splash for the home of Stefan Hurwicz. The colors match his beautiful granite countertops perfectly.
PERSONAL CONNECTION
This image illustrates the power of our local surf community. I was introduced to Zen through his wife Diana that I surf with regularly, only to realize that I also surfed regularly with Zen, but just didn’t know him personally prior to the introduction. We had been in the water surfing next each other countless times, but never made the connection and the 2020 surf art calendar brought us together.
This story reminds me of daily life where every day we pass through a sea of nameless faces, with all of us running in our own silos, and then all of a sudden, you find a common purpose and these faces no longer belong to a stranger and they’re part of your life. Zen was a fantastic Palos Verdes artist, who I’m honored to have featured in the 2020 and 2026 Surf Art Calendar, and cherish the opportunity to help bring awareness to his artistic legacy.
ARTIST BIO
Zen Del Rio (1957-2025) was a beloved South Bay, California, surfer, artist, shaper, and teacher known for his deep connection to the ocean, vibrant art reflecting nature, and "certified charger" big wave surfing, leaving behind a legacy of murals, surfboard designs, and an indelible mark on the surf community before his tragic death in June 2025 at age 68. Born February 2, 1957, in Mexico City, he moved to Palos Verdes, California, at age nine. His mother, world-renowned artist Gemma Taccogna, fostered his artistic talent from a young age, teaching him drawing, painting, and ceramics.
Del Rio's art was characterized by its simplicity, versatility, and deep connection to nature, spanning abstract to realism, seen in murals, logos, and surfboards. He was a fearless, self-taught surfer, shaping revered boards and creating iconic art for events like the Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race. His art, surfboards, and memories live on, inspiring fellow surfers and art lovers.
IG: @zendelrio3
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