Bio
Andy Davis was born in California and grew up between San Diego and Orange Counties. Art became a part of his life at a very young age, after hours of play, he would recreate his experiences of the day by drawing them with crayons. Later doodling became Andy’s escape from the classroom; he dreamed of being on his skateboard, or at the beach surfing. After high-school he was accepted to art school and attempted to play by the rules, however, he felt trapped all over again. This time he was old enough to do things his way so he made the unconventional decision to leave school for good. After years of drawing freedom on paper, Andy had his first real taste and the truth is, he liked it.
Soon after leaving art school, he took his college savings and started his first clothing company named after his newfound independence: “free.” His success was swift, the brand quickly pulled on talent such as Brad Gerlach and Donavan Frankenreiter. However, the popularity of the clothing was dwarfed by Andy’s youth & in-experience at running a business. “Free clothing” closed its doors in 1996 but served as a launching pad for Andy’s career as an artist which has been a dreamy one. He is still designing clothes today under the name of “Ando & Friends.” The brand supplies beach wear to the thousands of cult followers who have remained loyal to Andy’s clothing since the 90’s. Wearing Andy’s clothing makes one feel like they are part of something. Some say “When I wear a “bird-fish” t-shirt, I not only tell the world that I am free & and easy going but I also make a small statement that I, like Andy, stand for something . . . something simple and good.
Andy’s mom, Jane Davis is a practicing artist in Santa Fe, NM and his brother Zack Davis, in brooklyn NY, is a master sculptor; art just runs in Andy’s blood. Davis currently lives in Encinitas, CA with his wife, Ashley and son Noah. He is a devoted surfer who spends his days at the beach, designing clothing, traveling and preparing for art shows around the world.
Artists Statement
My art is a daydream. I get lost in the process of painting and drawing; it is the only part of my life that has never had rules. Every person that sees my work has a different interpretation of the meaning and I like it that way.
Client List
Ando & Friends Clothing
Patagonia
Northface
Thomas Campbell, The Seedling, The Sprout & The Present Movies
Hydrodynamica Movie by Richard Kenvin
Surfer Magazine
Nalu Magazine
Amsterdam Wetsuits
Sanuk Sandals
Josh Hall Surfboards
On the Board Magazine
Blue Magazine
Captain Fin
Joel Tudor Surfboards
Free Clothing
Byrd Clothing
Toes On The Nose
Roxy/Quicksilver
Surfrider Foundation
The Gap
Vans Shoes
Ruca Clothing
Sima
Thalia Surf Shop
Mollusk Surf Shop
TS Restaurants, owners of Kimo’s & Duke’s
2K by Gingham
Beams T’s Japan
Material Clothing
Kane Garden Surfboards
The Tyde, the band
Mandala Surfboards
Swami’s Japan
Coral Surf Shop Japan
California Surf Shop Japan
Hawaiian South Shore Surf Shop
Solo Exhibitions
2003| Andoland a Freebyrd Concoction - The Surf Gallery - Laguna Beach, CA
2005| Dream On - Beams Store -Tokyo, Japan
2007| Summer Love -The Surf Gallery - Laguna, CA
2007| Andy Davis Art Show - Mollusk Surf Shop - San Francisco, CA
2008| A Night at the Mollusk - San Francisco, CA
2009| Stay Casual, six-month pop up store solo exhibit - Ebb & Flow - Cardiff, CA
2010| Coming this summer . . . solo show - Biarritz, France
Group Exhibitions
2010| Inspiration Recycled Show - Barker Hanger - Santa Monica, CA
2010| Coming soon - Surfrider Foundation San Diego Art Gallery
2010| Where Oceans Converge -Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences-Summer-LBI, NJ
2009| Olde Tyme Craft Faire - Mollusk - San Francisco, CA
2009| 25th Annual Surf Art Gala - Surfrider Foundation Benefit - Los Angeles, CA 2008
2008| Dear and Yonder - New ImageArt - Los Angeles, CA
2008| Skip Frye & Andy Davis - Surf Indian Gallery - Pacific Beach, CA
2008| 3 Amigos - On Sundays - Watarium, Tokyo, Japan
2008| 3 Amigos - Montanaro Gallery - Newport, RI
2008| The Happening - Bondi Beach - Sydney, Australia
2008| Long Live Love - The Surf Gallery - Laguna Beach, CA
2007| Swim - Sea Cell - Byron Bay, Australia
2007| Sink, Monster Children - Sydney, Australia
2007| The Happening, MILK Gallery, New York City, NY
2007| The Happening - Orange County Museum of Art - Newport Beach, CA
2007| San Sebastian Film Festival - San Sebastian, Spain
2006| Untitled - Medium Plus - Kamakura, Japan
2006| The Greenroom Festival - Osanbashi Hall - Yokohama, Japan
2005| Sea Donkeys on Airplane Wings - New Image Art - Los Angeles, CA
2005| The Greenroom Festival - Osanbashi Hall - Yokohama, Japan
2005| Greatest Hits - Cassius King Gallery - San Diego, CA
2005| Way of the Bird - The Surf Gallery - Laguna Beach, CA
2004| The Moonshine Festival - Festival of the Arts - Laguna Beach, CA
2004| Sweet Emotion - The Surf Gallery - Laguna Beach, CA
2004| Keep-A-Breast - Modart - Anglet, France
2004| High Five - Full Support Gallery - Santa Cruz, CA
2003| Surfer Magazine Presents - Surf Gallery - Laguna Beach, CA
2003| A Joint Affair - New York City - New York
2003| State of the Art - The Surf Gallery - Laguna Beach, CA
2003| Surfstyle presented by OP - 111 Minna Gallery - San Francisco, CA
2003| Moonshine Festival - Festival of the Arts - Laguna Beach, CA
2002| The Joint Affair - Tokyo, Japan
Press
2009| Blue Magazine - “3 Amigos” - Volume No. 14 - pgs. 14-21
2009| Foam Magazine - “Home Base” - Andy & Ashley Davis at home - pgs. 30-31
2009| 19th Annual Waterman’s Ball Calendar
2008| Blue Magazine - “Sink” - Volume No. 9 - pgs. 16-31
2008| On the Board Magazine - “Road Trippin," A. Davis, J. Canham & A. Kopps-September pgs.40-49
2008| Nordic Magazine- Cover by Andy Davis - #2 Surfers Mac
2008| Mercury Newpaper - Cover by Andy Davis - “They Come in Three” - pgs. 12-13
2008| Monster Children - “Star Spangled Fists Full of Napalm” - Issue 017
2008| Blue Magazine- Cover By Andy Davis -”Roost of Birdfish” - Volume No. 8 - pgs. 65-67
2008| Blue Magazine - “I love Fish” - Volume No. 10 - pg. 60
2008| Blue Magazine- “3 Amigos East Coast Tour” - Volume No. 2 - pgs. 124-131
2008| Blue Calendar - May - Andy & Son
2008| Pop Surf Culture - Book by Chidester & Priore -Published by Santa Monica Publishing-pg.262
2007| Glide Magazine - “Road Runner Tour - MidSummer pgs. 158-159
2007| Relax Magazine- The Key of Life: Michele Lockwood - July pg. 114
2007| Glide Magazine - “Summer of Stoke Tour” - Volume 03 - Late Summer - pgs. 46-67
2007| Domino Magazine - “Surf Art” - August pg. 89
2007| On the Board Magazine - “Dream On” - four page editorial on Andy Davis - March pgs.54-57
2007| In Style Home - “Marvelously Mod” - Spring pg. 68
2007| Surfers Magazine- “Dream On, Andy Davis” - Feature Article - March - pgs. 44-54
2007| Nalu Magazine-“Live Clean & Simple”-Feature on Andy Davis-November,Vol. No.61-pgs.126-129
2006| Session Magazine- “Sirenes du Soleil” - Spring - pgs. 14-15
2006| Men’s Vogue - “The Next Wave” - Spring - pgs. 134-136
2006| Domino Magazine - “Flower Shower” - March - pg. 102
2006| The Surfer’s Journal-“Yesterday,Today & Tomorrow,”The art of Andy Davis-Aug-Sept.pgs.22-31
2005| Stranger Magazine- Cover by Andy Davis & Michael Leon-“The Art of Surfing”-Sept. pgs.78-79
2005| Safari Magazine Japan - Interview with Andy Davis - May pg. 94
2005| On the Board Girls Magazine - Cover by Andy Davis - Volume No. 47 - pgs. 74-79
2004| Surfer Magazine-Feature on “Andy Davis” -May - pgs. 132-137
2003| Surfer Magazine - “State of the Art” - Giant Collector’s Edition August-pgs. 152
2002| NaluMagazine Japan - “Creators No. 26: Andy Davis”-pgs. 146-149
1998| Pleasure Snowboard Magazine - Art Page - August