Contact us at leroygranniscollection (at) fastmail (dot) fm
The primary goal of the Leroy Grannis Collection (hereafter LGC) is to maintain and promote the legacy of the surf photography of Leroy (Granny) Grannis. These images from the 1950s to the 2000s capture the origins of modern surf culture and at the same time record a vision of the Pacific Ocean beach culture of Southern California that is foundational to contemporary perceptions of this region today. The LGC is a family-run business managed by his daughter, Nancy Grannis, and supported by Nancy’s three siblings, John Grannis, Frank Grannis, and Katie Padilla.
Leroy and Katie were lifelong Southern Californians; they never lived more than a few miles from the beach in Los Angeles county and San Diego county. Their commitment was to family, friends, and to this region. For many years, Granny printed his own photographs in his bathroom-turned-darkroom. The vision Granny brought to his photography represents perfectly what the LGC intends to pursue: an aesthetic of timeless athleticism, craft, style, and beauty, all taking place in front of a backdrop of Southern California’s beach cities finding their ground as unique places with a culture of their own.
Fine art and business opportunities that the LGC will be involved with will continue this focus on presenting a timeless art grounded in the experiences of Southern California’s beach culture. Quality, craftsmanship, honesty, and staying power all matter. The LGC intends to spread this art far beyond Southern California, but in ways that stay tied to our origins. A guiding question for any project we take on is: “What would Granny do?” Surf culture and beach culture have changed immensely over the last sixty years. Where surf culture and beach culture will be in another sixty years is still to be determined, but the art of Leroy Grannis will still be present and important, and any project the LGC takes on will have to have the staying power to be there in sixty years as well.
For more information please contact us at leroygranniscollection (at) fastmail (dot) fm