Origin Art | Motion and Expression

Motion and Expression: The Space In Between
A Collaboration Between Origin Art and Crispy Skateboards

Skateboarding is a language of motion—an act of balance, defiance, and improvisation. It is a culture built on self-expression, where style is everything, and creativity flourishes in the most unexpected spaces. Motion and Expression brings together over 40 artists to explore the skateboard deck as both a canvas and a symbol of artistic and personal freedom.

This exhibition is a convergence of art and skate. Each deck tells a story, capturing the raw energy of a subculture that has always thrived on reinvention. Much like contemporary artists, skateboarders push boundaries, transforming the urban landscape into a playground of creative intervention. The ledges, stairs, and pavements of Johannesburg are not just obstacles; they are opportunities for expression, just as the artists in this exhibition reimagine the skateboard as more than an object—it becomes a statement, a reflection, an artifact of identity.
With over 50 hand-painted and custom-designed decks, Motion and Expression showcases a dynamic spectrum of artistic voices. The featured works span a range of mediums—graffiti, mixed media, fine art, and graphic design—all united by the spirit of experimentation and storytelling that defines skateboarding and art. Here, decks are not just displayed but activated: as pieces to be ridden, collected, and lived with.

The idea is to bring the outside world into the gallery through Motion and Expression and also to take these stories back out beyond the gallery walls again. This is more than an exhibition—it is a tribute to the artists and skaters who redefine the world around us, who see the city not as fixed but as fluid, as a space of endless possibility.
Whether hanging on a wall or rolling through the streets, skateboards hold the essence of creation without limits. Motion and Expression is a celebration of that spirit—where art and motion collide, where expression is everything, and where the culture never stops evolving. 

This show runs from 7 March - 9 June 2025.