You may have noticed Haroshi’s sculptures skating around the internet in recent years. If you’re in New York, however, you have a splendid opportunity to see the fascinating creations rendered from skateboard decks in person at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery. For his first solo exhibition in the US, the Tokyo-based artist has created a collection of pieces that are inspired by the city of New York.

The process melds his love of skate culture with traditional methods of Japanese sculpture. His skateboard mosaic technique is modeled after the ancient tradition of building wooden Buddhas. These Bhuddhas were created with a crystal inside, representing the soul of the creation.

Hiroshi’s work reflects this tradition by including a metal object concealed within the shell of layered skateboards. Whether a broken skateboard part from the artist’s collection or another object with personal significance, Haroshi describes this practice as “giving a soul” to the sculpture. Additionally, he produces X-rays of these works in order to reveal the objects hidden inside. For more info, click here.

Jonathan LeVine Gallery: 529 West 20th Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10011