Katsushika HOKUSAI
A Timeless Vision, Reimagined on Skateboard Art
Few artists have shaped the global visual imagination as profoundly as Katsushika Hokusai. More than two centuries after his lifetime, his work remains instantly recognizable—bold, rhythmic, and endlessly influential. With this new collection, THE SKATEROOM pays tribute to Hokusai’s radical vision by translating a selection of his most iconic artworks onto decorative skateboard decks.
An Artist Who Changed How the World Sees Nature
Born in Edo (now Tokyo) in 1760, Hokusai was a restless innovator. Over a career spanning seven decades, he redefined ukiyo-e by pushing its scale, perspective, and subject matter. Nature—mountains, waterfalls, waves—became dynamic forces rather than static backdrops. His compositions feel alive, charged with movement and tension, capturing both the beauty and the power of the natural world.
Hokusai famously claimed that he only began to truly understand drawing in his seventies. That lifelong pursuit of mastery resonates deeply with our approach: a constant search for better forms, stronger images, and more meaningful objects.
From Woodblock Print to Skateboard Deck
This collection brings together several of Hokusai’s most celebrated works, each chosen for its graphic strength and narrative intensity:
- Red Fuji, with its striking palette and monumental calm, a meditation on permanence and change.
- Waterfalls from the series A Tour of the Waterfalls of the Provinces, where cascading water becomes a sculptural, almost abstract form.
- The Great Wave of Kanagawa, arguably one of the most famous images in art history—an eternal symbol of nature’s raw power and human fragility.
Printed across single decks and triptychs, these works unfold across the curved surface of the skateboard, offering a new way to experience Hokusai’s compositions—both as standalone pieces and as unified artworks.
A Living Legacy
Hokusai’s influence extends far beyond Japan. His work shaped Impressionism, inspired artists like Monet and Van Gogh, and continues to echo in contemporary graphic design, illustration, and popular culture. By bringing his art into dialogue with skateboard culture, this collection bridges centuries and disciplines—fine art, street culture, and contemporary design.
As with every THE SKATEROOM release, this collection is produced with the utmost care and respect for the original works, while staying true to our belief that art should live beyond museum walls.
