The Art of Skateboarding: The History of an Urban Culture

An illustrated, definitive guide to the art of skateboarding - from the streets of 1960s Los Angeles to today’s Olympic skateparks.

From the empty pools of 1960s Los Angeles to today’s Olympic skateparks, skateboarding has fostered a vibrant street culture that is visually striking yet often misunderstood.

In this definitive illustrated guide, trace the evolution of the skateboarding from the very first boards to a thriving industry defined by iconic brands and distinctive styles. Through never-before-seen photography, and exclusive access to designs from top artists, learn how skateboarding has become a living cultural movement, with dedicated events, exhibitions, and festivals, even attaining Olympic status.

Told through engaging narrative and pivotal excerpts from magazines, music, video games and films, Skate showcases the fearless tricks, defining moments, heroes and technical achievements through decades of transformation.

Sylvie Barco, a top graduate of Icart Photo in 1996, has spent 25 years exploring her fascination with walls through three series: the abstract and narrative ＂Lomoscope,＂ the street detail collection ＂Chaos,＂ and the street art-focused ＂Wall Street.＂ In 2018, she launched the GOS (Gang of Skate) project in Spain, creating immersive collages that blend wall photography and skateboarding, revealing their poetic essence. Her work has been acclaimed by Mister Freeze, Grimaud Art Urbain, and Strokar. In 2022, she created a 15-meter immersive collage for the Art of Skate exhibition at Fluctuart. Sylvie Barco was named the 2022 laureate of 100 Women of Culture.

Philippe Danjean, co-creator of Spray, an urban art collection club, has been collecting urban and contemporary art for over 20 years. He has curated numerous exhibitions in France and abroad. Philippe teaches cultural management at ICART, where he coordinates an MBA in the International Art Market, and at HEC. He co-organized the Art of Skate exhibition with Stéphane Maboeuf and collaborates regularly with the Musée en Herbe and Little Beaux-Arts.

Stéphane Madoeuf has been passionate about skateboarding, graffiti, and music all his life. He started collecting vinyl records, posters, and flyers in 1990, expanding to urban cultures in the 2000s. After a marketing career, he now teaches at HEC Paris, directing programs in digital, entrepreneurship, and art. He has initiated numerous projects and promoted artists in exhibitions in France and abroad, including the Art of Skate exhibition at Fluctuart, and those exhibited at Station F.