Phil Meatchem Captures Tom Carroll’s Legendary Snap at Pipeline
Some surf moments stay with you forever — and Tom Carroll’s famous “snap” at Pipeline is one of them. Back in 1991, during the Pipe Masters, Carroll pulled off a move so sharp and controlled that it instantly became part of surfing history. It’s an image burned into every surfer’s mind — and now, Australian artist Phil Meatchem has brought that moment to life on canvas.
About the Artist – Phil Meatchem
Phil Meatchem is an Australian artist known for his powerful surf-inspired paintings. His work often focuses on the raw energy of the ocean and the fleeting connection between surfers and the waves they ride. Rather than painting calm, postcard-style scenes, Meatchem captures motion, light, and the feeling of being in the water — close to the power and unpredictability of the sea.
His brushwork gives his paintings texture and life, with layers of color that suggest both the calm and chaos of surfing. You get a sense that he’s painting not just what the ocean looks like, but what it feels like to be out there.
While Meatchem is deeply tied to surf culture, his art stretches far beyond the beach. His wider body of work captures the broader rhythms of Australian life in a yesteryear way. Holden HQ station wagons, Kangaroos in pubs, 'old mate' having a beer, Sydney Opera house ... Phil really captures the old Aussie spirit.
The Moment – Tom Carroll at Pipeline
This artwork is based on a classic photo of Tom Carroll performing a tight, committed snap under the lip at Pipeline, Hawaii. The move was bold, technical, and full of style and super risky give how dangerous Pipeline wave is at that size — a defining moment in Carroll’s career and in the history of competitive surfing.
In Meatchem’s version, the wave takes on almost sculptural form. A towering wall of blue and green rises above Carroll, who’s captured mid-turn, board slicing through the water’s face. The scale of the ocean dwarfs the surfer, emphasizing both the power of nature and the precision of the rider.
Aussie Surf Art – From Beach Culture to Canvas
Australia has a long history of surf art that runs parallel to its surf culture — vibrant, irreverent, and deeply connected to the coast. From the early beachside muralists of the 1970s to today’s gallery names, Australian surf art has always reflected more than just waves; it captures the rhythm, lifestyle, and humour of life by the sea.
Artists like Ozzy Wright (also known as the frontman of The Goons of Doom) brought a punk-infused edge to surf art in the late 1990s and 2000s — colourful, raw, and dripping with energy. His work combines surfing, music, and counterculture in a way that feels distinctly Australian.
Others, like Shaun Gladwell, have explored surfing through contemporary art and film, blending movement and landscape in thoughtful, conceptual ways. Meanwhile, classic painters such as Ken Done and Martine Emdur have captured the softer, more luminous side of Australia’s coastal life — the light, the salt, and the simple joy of being in the water.
Phil Meatchem’s work sits comfortably within that lineage. His art bridges the power and beauty of the ocean, translating moments from surf history into bold, textured paintings that speak to the heart of Australian surf culture.
A Timeless Connection Between Surfing and Art
Meatchem’s painting doesn’t just recreate a famous surf image — it interprets it. The energy of the wave, the play of light, and the tension in Carroll’s movement all come together to create something timeless. It’s a piece that speaks to surfers, art lovers, and anyone who’s ever felt the pull of the ocean.
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