There are artists and then there are purely creative beings—Mark Gonzales is the latter. His daily life is one perpetual motion machine of creation, communication, and innovation. A lifelong skateboarder, Mark is not only admired for these indelible contributions of his to the culture, but widely held in high regard as the godfather and architect of modern day street skateboarding.
Throughout the '80s and '90s, Mark created his own style of graphics used on skateboards, t-shirts, and advertising for a myriad of brands he worked with, all the while producing zines and making art typically given away or sent to friends.
Not constrained to any one particular medium, his influence reached far beyond the boundaries of skateboarding. By the turn of the century, Mark had created a prolific body of work that established him as a globally acclaimed and exhibited artist. This notoriety led to collaborations with sponsors such as adidas and Supreme, cementing Mark's unadulterated voice in popular culture.
Over the last eight years, our group has had the privilege of sorting through an incredible amount of Mark’s material. The items in this auction were all collected from storage units and studio spaces that he's maintained throughout the course of his life. Whether created specifically for a gallery, or purely for personal use and entertainment, every piece is a unique facet of that which he has come to be known for… an eccentric stream of consciousness that is as much a commentary on society, as it is a hilarious inside joke. Mark simply sheds these objects and ephemera and moves on, constantly creating and never looking back. These hand-touched artifacts—from personalized clothing to used skateboards, production samples, and more—are all too special to be merely discarded. They are honest to god fragments of skate history worthy of collection, preservation, and display.
Wow. You made it to the bottom. We appreciate that. If you’re hungry for more, drop us a note at shop@unofficialGonz.com. All comments are welcome. Especially suggestions on what you’re hoping to find on the site.