Adler \ Smith Gallery
A Surf, Skate and Music Culture
Art Gallery in beautiful Santa Monica
Opening Exhibition
ALEX KNOST: A SHOW OF PAINTING, PHOTOGRAPHY AND LIGHT
On View: August 29th - October 5th
Opening Night: Saturday August 29th 5 to 9pm
Alex Knost bears many titles - Surfer, Shaper, Painter, Photographer, Sculptor, Longboarder, Musician, and Fashionista from Costa Mesa, California; mildly controversial leading figure in the DIY surf-hipster movement that emerged from Southern California in the early 2000s. Knost was born (1985) and raised in Costa Mesa, and began surfing with his father in Newport Beach at age ten. "Most kids my age were watching Taylor Steele vids," Knost said of his early surfing influences. "I was watching the 1960s stuff my dad was into."
Knost starred in Thomas Campbell's 2004 film Sprout, which featured the teenaged regularfoot in glorious Indian Ocean surf handling old school longboards with a unique half-casual, half-frenetic style. "If Joel Tudor's noseriding is a Stradivarius in the hands of a master," marveled surf journalist Joel Patterson, "Alex's full-body attack is a Fender Stratocaster getting beaten against a Marshall stack."
We’ll let you be the judge
Upcoming
Shows
Check out this lineup...
AUG 29 - ALEX KNOST
OCT 10 - JILL EMERY & EXENE CERVENKA
NOV 14 - KEVIN SHORT
NOV 21 - SHREDDER ORPHEUS FILM
DEC 19 - 30 YEARS OF STAF MAGAZINE/ANDY JENKINS + STAF 51
Previous Shows
Dogtown
50 YEARS OF FUN
A lineup of artists who helped shape skateboarding’s visual identity as much as its progression.
August 2026
Rick Griffin
PACIFIC VIBRATIONS
A highly anticipated, exclusive exhibition celebrating the renowned Californian artist.
July 2026
Peter Schroff
SUPERLOVE
The master surfboard shaper shares his collection of vibrant stenciled art for the first time in 50 years.
June 2026
David Llyod & Thaddeus Strode
MYSTIFIED
A collection of 200 unframed pieces with energetic mixed media & drawings.
May 2026
Falu Carolei
STOKED AGAIN
Vibrant works across decks, canvas and objects, heavily influenced by skate, surf, rock, and graffiti.
April 2026
Sandow Birk
SEASCAPES
Sprawling and inviting seascapes painted on canvas and unexpected found objects.
February 2026
Ed Clover & Ric Clayton
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PUNK
Two iconic artists who images and illustrations helped shape the visual identity of early California punk.
January 2026
Ben Brough & Damion Fullers
LAST OF THE TIDE RIDERS
Showcasing Fuller’s concise, unadorned creations, and Brough’s figurative, cubist abstractions.
Novermber 2025
Gregg Deal
THE OTHERS
Brightly colored work informed by a Native identity with critiques of society, popular culture and history.
October 2025
Blakeney Sanford
CAERULEAPHILE
Site-specific installations, facet sculptures, multidimensional portals, and Emmy-winning cinematography.
September 2025
Stacy Peralta
THE JOY OF DECAY
A series of paintings on recycled rag paper, a raw and tactile expression of Peralta’s visual voice.
July 2025
Skateboard Art Benefit
MPS - MIDDLE OF NOWHERE
With Jeff Ament (of Pearl Jam) featuring 90 one-of-a-kind pieces of art, benefiting MPS non-profit.
June 2025
Steve Nazar
CELEBRATION OF LIFE & ART
Five decades of work spanning a dozen mediums and every color imaginable. We love you Steve.
May 2025
Book signing Claudia Lebenthal
SURFER STORIES
A collection of unique and intimate stories about twelve of the world's greatest surfers.
April 2025
Marisa Murrow &
Summer Strauch
A collection of paintings and photos capturing California's timeless coastal views.
April 2025
Brian Bent
SURFRIDER AT THE PALISADES
A dynamic show featuring playful oceanscapes set against the fiery, sky-lit drama of the Palisades.
March 2025
Todd Glaser
A LIFE OF WAVES
Book signing, documenting 15 years of waves with 11x world champion Kelly Slater.
January 2025
Pandora Decoster
BIARRITZ / LA
The perfect harmony of French sophistication and Californian surf vibes.
December 2024
Andy Davis &
Nora Vasconcellos
SH*TBURD
Whimsical mixed media centered on surf & skate.
November 2024
Tim Kerr, Sandy Yang & Steve Olson
OUTLIERS
A showing of bright paintings on skateboards, plexi and paper.
September 2024
John Van Hamersveld
MAKING WAVES
Celebrating 60 years of spectacular art creation, and JVH's 83rd birthday.
August 2024
Russ Pope
CALIFORNIA ON THE BRAIN
A colorful array of paintings on canvas and paper
July 2024
Collaboration: Tom Blake + Outerknown
TOM BLAKE+OUTERKNOWN
A collaboration 100 years in the making; photographs & fine threads
June 2024
Art Brewer
HONORING ART BREWER
Remembering legends and a spread of timeless photographs
June 2024
Wolfgang Bloch
REFLECTIONS
Expansive seascape paintings and personal photographs
May 2024
Sandow Birk / Leo Hetzel
SEASCAPES
Epic big wave colorful paintings and timeless surf photos
April 2024
Russell Crotty &
David Lloyd
ABOVE & BELOW
Drawings, paintings and hand built ceramic vessels
March 2024
Collaboration: Casa Ysasi
Creative Studio, Britton Caillouette & Aaron Dozal
CABALGATA
Film, music, photography, sculpture and neon art
March 2024
Jérôme Brunet &
Ned Evans
PLAYERS & PICKERS
Photography and mixed media sculptures with live music
February 2024
Julie Goldstein
THE SEA AND ME
Mixed media and wood block art inspired by old ocean folklore.
December 2023
Thomas Campbell
DER FER SURE
Mixed media and performance art with live music and film screenings
October 2023
