Two once-fringe movements—street art and skate culture—are converging at the auction block. Julien's Auctions is set to present a powerful double-header, the 'Skate Culture: Vintage Grails of The 70's & 80's' and 'Street Art: Paint & Pavement' auctions. This curated, back-to-back offering is not just a coincidence; it is a profound statement on the symbiotic relationship between two of the last century's most influential subcultures and a clear indicator of a new, dynamic art market.

For decades, the artifacts of skate culture and street art were seen as ephemeral, their creators as outsiders. Yet, as the generation that grew up idolizing vert ramp legends and pixelated invaders enters its prime collecting years, the market is validating these rebellious artifacts as impactful cultural assets. The competitive bidding on our top lots tells a compelling story of a market that is mature, sophisticated, and ready to embrace art that speaks truth to power.

Join us on Wednesday, September 24th, at 10:00 AM PDT for Skate Culture -- and Thursday, September 25th, at 10:00 AM PDT for Street Art -- online and LIVE from Julien's Studios in Los Angeles.

The Gritty Genesis: Skate Culture as Street Art's Forefather

Before the spray can was the skate deck. The 'Skate Culture' auction is a deep dive into the roots of this global phenomenon. These aren't just pieces of wood; they're canvases that captured a cultural moment, many of them "deadstock" and preserved in pristine condition. Brands like Powell-Peralta, Dogtown, Santa Cruz, and Zorlac read like a who's who of skateboarding history, with graphics from legendary artists like Jim Phillips and Vernon Courtlandt Johnson defining the visual language of a generation.

The true marquee lot that bridges the gap between these two worlds is the original, hand-painted skateboard deck by Kustom Kulture legend Ed "Big Daddy" Roth. His grotesque, cartoonish style, epitomized by the iconic Rat Fink, was a visceral rejection of the clean-cut mainstream. This aesthetic, born from the hot-rod scene, found a natural home in the rebellious heart of early skate culture. Roth's piece isn't just a work of art; it's a historical artifact that visually charts the shared DNA of these two movements. It reminds us that the art on the deck was often as important as the rider on top.

Bred By The Culture

The Urban Renaissance: A New Blue-Chip Art Class

Following the skate auction, 'Street Art: Paint & Pavement' continues this narrative of elevation. The very title suggests that art born on the street is now worthy of the auction podium. This sale features a curated selection of pieces by the genre's most influential figures, proving that what was once considered vandalism has matured into a blue-chip collecting category.

Leading the charge are works by the genre's titans, all of which have garnered significant pre-auction interest:

Banksy

The anonymous provocateur's pieces command global attention. Our auction features a selection of highly sought-after works, including the iconic 2004 screenprint "Christ with Shopping Bags," a powerful critique on the commercialization of religion. We're also offering a rare proof print of the universally recognized "Girl with Balloon" and an original, in-situ aerosol painting, "Mayfair Paparazzi Rat," executed on a wooden door panel in London. This piece, which perfectly predicted the location's future as a celebrity hotspot, shows the artist's prescient wit and adds significant cultural value.

Shepard Fairey

Known for his powerful graphic imagery, Fairey continues to be a force in the market. The collaborative print "Sadistic Dog Walker" with Francisco Reyes Jr. has attracted a highly competitive seven-bidder race. This piece, which uses "humor and absurdity to make such a heavy topic more digestible," highlights a growing trend among collectors who view socially conscious works as both cultural investments and statements of personal values.