Fil-Am artist turns skateboards into works of art
Photos from sk8marie/Instagram
With the freedom given by her Filipino parents to paint on walls as a child, Kristina Sison has emerged as an artist unraveling the intricacies of Asian art on her unique canvas: skateboards.
Turning skateboards into vibrant works of art, Sison’s unique approach showcases her Filipino roots and resonates with the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community in celebration of AANHPI Heritage Month.
May 2, 2024 marked a significant milestone for Sison, who launched her first-ever assemblage of skateboard art in collaboration with the Portland-based ad agency Wieden+Kennedy.
This art exhibit was part of Wieden+Kennedy’s Shared Spaces — an immersive Asian household experience, designed to narrate a profound story of assimilation and identity.
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Taking to Instagram to express her gratitude, she wrote, “Thank you @wiedenkennedy @wkportland + Asiancy ERG for highlighting me as an artist during the Shared Spaces event in honor of Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month.”
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Skateboard art inspired by her Asian roots
Sison’s gallery pieces draw heavily from her Filipino American identity, which has profoundly impacted her work.
“In every Asian household, there are wood carvings, mixed media, red and gold everywhere, and I just loved all those pieces you’d see in a very stereotypical Asian home,” shared Sison with AsAmNews.
Adoring the patterns and intricate details of Asian art while growing up, she shared in an Instagram post how she incorporated a Filipino kitchen staple – a rice cooker – into her skateboard art.
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“This board is inspired by the rice cookers you’d see in every Asian home. I always loved the little flower details,” she posted. This piece was also displayed in Shared Spaces.
Working closely with clients to craft one-of-a-kind pieces, Sison is no newbie, with over a decade of experience creating skateboard art.
Some of her notable projects include painting a sunflower on a skateboard for Kulani Kinis, a well-known bikini line based in Australia, donating a custom-made skateboard to a local family and setting up a skatepark in Costa Rica.
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For her inspiration, she looks up to artists venturing into murals and typography, including Phoebe (Cornog) Nelson, Gustavo Zermeño and Zachary Smith, as well as female Asian artists Audrey Kawasaki and Allison Hueman.
Where it all began
Her love for skateboarding dates back to her childhood surrounded by her skater friends. She adored the style and art within skateboarding spheres.
“I was always a very creative kid, and had a blank board in my closet and just decided to try that as a canvas one day, and here we are, about a decade later,” said Sison. “And over 100 boards later! I wouldn’t say I’m a good skater though, I can sorta just cruise a bit.”
Her path to becoming an artist wasn’t easy. Sison’s parents expected her to take the traditional career path pursued by many Filipino Americans — the medical and engineering fields.
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Although her parents were not thrilled with her decision to pursue a career in art, Sison eventually earned a degree in Visual Communication and Interior Architecture.
Still, she found it difficult to convince her parents to get on board with her creative odyssey. Thanks to her younger sister, Karla, who became her biggest cheerleader throughout her journey.
Her advice for other aspiring AANHPI artists? “Keep doing it. Keep creating. You choose how you want to share it with the world, but never stop.”
To see more of Kristina Sison’s skateboard art, follow her on Instagram: @sk8marie
