Surfing Madonna Re-Creation Up for Auction

A re-creation of  is being auctioned to help artist Mark Patterson cover the fines and fees he racked up after  to remove his artwork from public property.

Patterson and Carlsbad artist collaborated on the re-creation, which is about half the size of the original. This new version features an image of Surfing Madonna, which Snyder painted using his signature drip technique, never allowing the brush to touch the canvas—as evidenced in  Patterson then created an intricate mosaic along the edges of the canvas using glass from 

The bid opened Tuesday, and as of now, there is no closing date. Anyone interested in buying the artwork can send an email to theartist@snyderartdesign.com. There’s not a starting bid, though the men are hoping to bring in enough money to cover Patterson’s $6,000 art installation debt.  

The re-creation also aims to promote  and its message of ocean conservation. Keeping in that vein, the men have also launched a website dedicated to the project and its mission. 

The original Surfing Madonna mysteriously appeared underneath an Encinitas bridge just before Easter. It was weeks before  who put it there. In June the city ordered that the . Several busineses and residents have since expressed , and Patterson is keeping the artwork in storage until he decides its permanent home.

The central portion of the Surfing Madonna and the smaller re-creation will both be on display during the annual .