For generations, Bunger Surf Shop has been synonymous with surfing on Long Island. Surfers know Bunger for its handcrafted surfboards, knowledgeable staff, and deep roots in the local surf community. But behind every custom board and every iconic logo is something that has always been equally important—art and design.
Surfing has never been just a sport. It is a culture built around creativity, self-expression, and craftsmanship. Every surfboard begins as an idea before it becomes a rideable piece of equipment, and every artist who finds inspiration in the ocean helps preserve the spirit of coastal living that has defined Long Island for decades.
That is why the Summer of 2026 represents something truly special at Bunger Surf Shop. Through an exciting collaboration with local artist Shauna Carroll and the upcoming Beyond the Break art exhibition at the Christensen Gallery, Bunger is celebrating the creative people whose work continues to shape the Long Island surf community. Together, these projects highlight what surfers have always understood: surfboard design is art, and supporting Long Island artists has always been part of the Bunger story.
A Special Collaboration with Shauna Carroll
Every summer, Bunger Surf Shop introduces new apparel that reflects the feeling of Long Island surfing. This year’s Shack collection carries even greater significance because it was created by someone whose artistic journey has always been connected to the local surf community.
Longtime Babylon resident, close friend, and Gilgo Beach local Shauna Carroll designed the 2026 Shack artwork through her creative brand, Tidal Soul Designs. Although Shauna has since relocated to Florida, her artistic roots remain firmly planted on Long Island, making this collaboration especially meaningful for everyone involved.
Shauna has built a distinctive artistic style that naturally blends surfing, coastal living, and fine art. She is particularly known for transforming retired surfboards into beautiful works of art, giving old boards a second life as painted canvases. Her work celebrates both sustainability and the history of surfing, while creating pieces that are equally at home in a gallery or a beach house.
For Bunger Surf Shop, partnering with Shauna isn’t simply about creating a new T-shirt design. It’s about celebrating a longtime friendship, recognizing a talented local artist, and supporting someone who has spent years expressing the beauty of surf culture through her work.
The result is a collection that feels authentic to both Bunger and the Long Island surfing community. It reminds us that some of the strongest creative connections continue long after someone has moved away, because the beaches and friendships that inspire great artists are never forgotten.
Surfboard Design Has Always Been an Art Form
To someone unfamiliar with surfing, a surfboard may appear to be nothing more than sporting equipment. Surfers, however, understand that every board tells a story long before it ever reaches the water.
Every custom surfboard begins as a blank canvas. The outline, rocker, rails, foil, color work, pin lines, glassing, and finish all require thoughtful artistic decisions that blend engineering with creativity. Performance matters, but so does personality. The finished board reflects the vision of the shaper as much as the style of the surfer who rides it.
That philosophy has been part of Bunger Surf Shop since founder Charlie Bunger Sr. began shaping boards by hand decades ago. His custom surfboards earned respect because they performed exceptionally well in Long Island waves while carrying a distinctive look that reflected his craftsmanship and attention to detail.
Today, resident shaper Tommy Bunger proudly carries that tradition forward. Every custom board that leaves the shaping room continues the artistic legacy established by his father, combining decades of experience with modern design and meticulous craftsmanship.
The shaping room itself has always been more than a workshop. It is an artist’s studio where raw materials become functional works of art. Every finished surfboard represents countless creative decisions, making each one unique to the surfer who ordered it.
Beyond the Break Celebrates Long Island Artists
The celebration of creativity continues this summer with one of Babylon Village’s most exciting cultural events.
Beginning with an opening reception on Friday, July 24 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, the Christensen Gallery will present Beyond the Break, a group art exhibition honoring the history, culture, and artistic influence of Bunger Surf Shop.
The exhibition will feature numerous Long Island artists, photographers, designers, and creatives working across a variety of artistic mediums. While every artist brings a unique perspective, many of the works are inspired by surfing, the ocean, coastal living, and the generations of people who have built Long Island’s surf culture.
Here is a list of all the featured artists
- Sean Strafford
- Peter Bragino
- Stanko
- Candace Ceslow
- Joey Farrell
- Louis Sarowski
- Irene Vitale
- Frank D’Agostino
- Alexander Walsh
- Shauna Carroll
- Olivia Bunger
- Howie Guja
- Shawn Uttendorfer
- Bradford Schneider
- Bobby Delaney
- John Tuttle
- Robert Mielenhausen
- Edward Acosta
- Robert Ammirati
- Ty’s Reef
- Jacob Saccone
- Chris Mason
Visitors will experience a thoughtful combination of contemporary artwork alongside historical displays that celebrate Bunger’s remarkable legacy. According to Theresa Bunger, portions of the gallery will include vintage photographs displayed alongside classic surfboards, creating an experience that feels almost like walking through a museum dedicated to Long Island surfing.
Highlights of the exhibition include:
- Original artwork inspired by surfing and coastal life
- Photography celebrating Long Island’s surf community
- Historic Bunger photographs spanning generations
- Vintage surfboards displayed throughout the gallery
- Pieces honoring the history of Bunger Surf Shop and Babylon surfing
The exhibition will remain on display for approximately six weeks, allowing both local residents and summer visitors the opportunity to experience this unique celebration of surf culture and local creativity.
More Than an Art Exhibition
What makes Beyond the Break especially meaningful is that it celebrates more than artwork hanging on gallery walls. It celebrates the people and relationships that have helped shape Long Island’s surfing community over many decades.
Many of the participating artists have personal connections to Bunger Surf Shop, Babylon Village, or the beaches that inspired their work. Some express those experiences through painting, while others work in photography, mixed media, illustration, or design. Together, they represent a community of artists connected by a shared appreciation for the ocean and the lifestyle that surrounds it.
Shauna Carroll’s participation makes the exhibition even more special. Not only did she create this year’s Shack artwork, but she will also be among the featured artists exhibiting at Beyond the Break, further connecting this summer’s two major creative projects.
The exhibition serves as a reminder that surfing has always inspired artists just as much as athletes. It encourages visitors to see surfboards not simply as equipment, but as objects that reflect decades of craftsmanship, innovation, and artistic expression.
Supporting Long Island Artists Strengthens Our Community
Supporting Long Island artists has always been a natural extension of Bunger Surf Shop’s mission. Surf culture encourages creativity in every form, whether it’s shaping surfboards, painting ocean landscapes, photographing perfect waves, or designing apparel that captures the feeling of a summer day at the beach.
When local businesses collaborate with local artists, everyone benefits. Artists gain opportunities to share their work with new audiences, while the community gains richer cultural experiences that celebrate its own identity and history. Those partnerships help preserve the stories, traditions, and creativity that make Long Island’s surf culture unique.
The Summer of 2026 reflects exactly that spirit. Through the new Shack design, the Beyond the Break exhibition, and the continued craftsmanship found inside Bunger’s shaping room, the shop is demonstrating that art has always been woven into everything it does.
Join Us This Summer
Whether you’re picking up this year’s Shauna Carroll-designed Shack apparel, ordering a custom surfboard shaped by Tommy Bunger, or attending the Beyond the Break exhibition, you’re participating in something much larger than a single event. You’re supporting local artists, celebrating generations of craftsmanship, and helping preserve the creative traditions that have defined Long Island’s surfing community for more than 60 years.
The Summer of 2026 is a reminder that surfing has always been about more than catching waves. It is about community, creativity, history, and the people whose passion continues to shape both our beaches and our culture. Bunger Surf Shop is proud to celebrate that legacy and invites everyone to experience a summer where surf, art, and design come together in a way that only Long Island can.
We hope you’ll join us in celebrating the remarkable talent of our Long Island artists and the enduring creative spirit that continues to define Bunger Surf Shop—both in the shaping room and far beyond the break.
