# Rick Griffin: Life and Art of a Psychedelic Pioneer
> Explore the legendary career of Rick Griffin, from California surf culture and Murphy comics to iconic Grateful Dead posters and underground comix.

Tags: rick-griffin, psychedelic-art, grateful-dead, surf-culture, concert-posters, underground-comix, flying-eyeball
## RICK GRIFFIN | Early Life & Surf Roots
- Born June 18, 1944, Southern California.
- Influenced by surf culture and MAD Magazine.
- Early work included surfer cartoons at Nathaniel Narbonne High School.

## Murphy & Surfer Magazine
- Created the iconic "Murphy" character for *Surfer Magazine* in 1961.
- 1963 car crash shifted his style toward denser, psychedelic imagery.
- Attended Chouinard Art Institute and Ken Kesey's Acid Tests.

## San Francisco & The Psychedelic Explosion
- Relocated to SF in 1966.
- One of the "Big Five" psychedelic poster artists.
- Designed for the Human Be-In, Avalon Ballroom, and Fillmore series using Rapidograph pens.

## The Flying Eyeball: An Iconic Symbol
- Created in 1968 for a Jimi Hendrix concert (BG-105).
- Blended surf imagery with psychedelic surrealism.
- Work held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

## The Grateful Dead & Underground Comix
- Founding member of *Zap Comix* (1968).
- Designed the Grateful Dead *Aoxomoxoa* album cover (1969).
- Created the original logo for *Rolling Stone* magazine.

## Faith, Art & Later Years
- 1970 spiritual awakening and conversion to Christianity.
- Illustrated the *Gospel of John* for Maranatha! Music.
- Blended Christian fine art with surf culture in his later years.

## Legacy of a Visionary
- Died August 18, 1991, following a motorcycle accident.
- Influenced artists like Roger Dean and Mark Wilkinson.
- 2025 modern collaborations with brands like Levi's and Dr. Martens.
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