Alex Israel Suspends Surfboard Fins at Gagosian London
Gagosian will present 'Upside Down', a new exhibition of sculptures by Alex Israel, at its Davies Street gallery from 12th June to 5th September 2026. The show features four large-scale Plexiglas sculptures based on surfboard fins, enlarged and inverted, suspended from the ceiling. The works reference the Finish Fetish and Light and Space movements of 1960s Los Angeles, as well as surf culture and Californian mythology. Each sculpture is titled after a well-known pop song. The fin motif has recurred in Israel's practice since his film 'SPF-18' (2017), and has appeared in designs for Louis Vuitton, the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics logo, and a recent Oliver Peoples collaboration. Israel also designed the fin-shaped award for the inaugural California Arts Council Awards in Sacramento. The installation transforms the gallery into an aquarium-like space, with street-facing windows creating the illusion of viewing from underwater.
Key facts
- Exhibition titled 'Upside Down' opens 12th June 2026 at Gagosian Davies Street, London.
- Features four large-scale Plexiglas sculptures based on surfboard fins.
- Sculptures are inverted and suspended from the ceiling.
- Works reference Finish Fetish and Light and Space movements from 1960s Los Angeles.
- Each sculpture is named after a well-known pop song.
- Fin motif originated from Israel's film 'SPF-18' (2017).
- Israel designed a fin-shaped logo for Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and a Louis Vuitton Artycapucines handbag.
- Israel created the fin-shaped award for the inaugural California Arts Council Awards in Sacramento.
Entities
Artists
Institutions
- Gagosian
- Louis Vuitton
- Oliver Peoples
- California Arts Council
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Los Angeles
- United States
- Sacramento
- California
- Davies Street
- Southern California
- Rome
- Italy