JONI STERNBACH – SURFBOARD
2026-08-24Using the 19th-century photographic process, Sternbach portrays surfboards as singular artifacts shaped by craftsmanship, use, history, and the ocean itself. Her images bridge centuries of photographic tradition and the enduring culture of surfing, creating works that feel both timeless and distinctly contemporary.
The resulting photographs combine the tactile immediacy of historical photographic methods with the enduring iconography of surf culture. Removed from the ocean and presented as singular subjects, the boards become portraits in their own right—records of human touch, craftsmanship, and lived experience. Sternbach’s use of the wet plate collodion process introduces a distinctive visual language marked by luminous detail, rich tonalities, and the subtle imperfections inherent to handmade photographic materials.
Opposite – 19.02.12 #5 Skeleton, 2019
Exhibition runs through to August 29th, 2026
Joseph Bellows Gallery
7661 Girard Avenue
La Jolla
CA 92037
