London – Create and Annoy

“Create & Annoy” is a collision of skateboarding’s raw energy and art’s rebellious spirit, co-curated by legendary pool rider Steve “Salba” Alba and artist D*Face. Bringing together original artworks, installations, photography, and skate culture ephemera, the exhibition celebrates the shared DNA of two movements built on defiance, DIY ingenuity, and a refusal to play by the rules.

The skateboard graphic isn’t just decoration – it’s the heartbeat of skate culture. Legends like Jim Phillips and Vernon Courtlandt Johnson didn’t simply design images; they defined an attitude, creating icons that made kids want to ride and helped brands take off. That tradition continues with artists carrying forward the idea that a deck is more than wood and wheels – it’s a canvas, a flag, and a statement.

An undeniable legend of the sport, Steve “Salba” Alba has been a skateboarding pioneer for almost fifty years, since his first pool contest victory in 1978. Few, if any, have ridden, drained, and shredded more backyard pools – a lifelong obsession that became both his signature and his legacy. His influence stretches beyond tricks and terrain; it lives in the attitude he embodies: raw, aggressive, unapologetic.

D*Face (aka Dean Stockton) has spent the past two decades redefining what it means to make work in and for the city. With over 150 large-scale murals worldwide, his sharp, subversive imagery has cemented him as one of the most influential voices in the scene. Long before galleries and skylines, he was immersed in skateboarding – a culture that continues to inform everything he does: the energy, the DIY approach, the refusal to wait for permission.

Now, the two join forces to curate a monumental exhibition celebrating the intersection of skateboarding, art, and counterculture. “Create & Annoy – Skate & Destroy” is a call to all who share that relentless creative spirit – a tribute to the grit, style, and underground ethos they’ve championed throughout their careers.

A roll call of heavy hitters, underground icons, and next-gen voices, “Create & Annoy” spans; Skaters who picked up pens and paint – and artists shaped by skating — each helping define the graphics, attitude, and visual DNA of the culture.