Ed Templeton needs no introduction - a skateboarding legend, multidisciplinary artist and cultural chronicler whose photography has captured the essence of an entire subculture. His work has been documenting the lives of young skaters against the backdrop of American suburbia, extracting raw artistry from the everyday reality of a life lived skating. THE SKATEROOM is proud to reveal Ed Templeton’s limited collection of hand-signed skateboard triptychs, marking our first collaboration with the prolific artist.

Empowering refugees in Athens through skateboarding

A Life Lived Skating Wires Crossed - a collection of documentary photographs and artworks taken by Ed Templeton between 1995 and 2012 - are, as he puts it, his life’s work. Himself an acclaimed pro skater, he took to art to capture the often misunderstood and impenetrable personal journeys of skaters. Through documenting his friends - their triumphs, injuries, relationships, emotions - he has created a visual time capsule which is filled with both originality and nostalgia.

Ed Templeton's Limited Hand-Signed Artworks

A Life Lived Skating Wires Crossed - a collection of documentary photographs and artworks taken by Ed Templeton between 1995 and 2012 - are, as he puts it, his life’s work. Himself an acclaimed pro skater, he took to art to capture the often misunderstood and impenetrable personal journeys of skaters. Through documenting his friends - their triumphs, injuries, relationships, emotions - he has created a visual time capsule which is filled with both originality and nostalgia.

The now cult-status photographs grace THE SKATEROOM’s new limited collection, paying homage to authentic skate culture and its deeply inherent connection to art. For Ed and his community, skating was a source of fulfillment and escape - it had the power to strengthen friendships, inspire creativity, broaden horizons and significantly shape a lifestyle. Our collection amplifies this impact on a global scale, dedicating 10% of its revenue to Free Movement Skateboarding which seeks to empower, educate and inspire refugees in Athens through skateboarding initiatives.

Ed Templeton Artworks at THE SKATEROOM Gallery

More about the artist

Ed Templeton (b. 1972, Garden Grove, CA; based in Huntington Beach, CA) is known for his interdisciplinary practice, most notably of photographs documenting people and street life of Huntington Beach, California, intimate portraits of his wife, and paintings depicting the psychological complexity of American suburbia. He first gained recognition as a teenage skateboard prodigy in the late 1980s and taught himself to photograph on the fly while actively touring for competitions. He later expanded to incorporate his artwork and graphics for his skate company Toy Machine.

Founded in 2016, Free Movement Skateboarding is an international organization which offers skateboarding lessons to youth communities in Athens and in refugee camps/centers around the city. They offer daily sessions, including educational programs, creative workshops and non-binary/LGBTQ+-friendly sessions. Specializing in offering activities for kids that are suffering from childhood trauma, Free Movement creates safe environments to tackle mental health issues as well as simply offering opportunities to play and integrate socially with others. They partner with local NGOs working with youth in order to have a bigger reach and use Concrete Jungle Foundation’s EduSkate program.