"SKULLY"
NUDE BOWL
Out in the badlands of the Mojave Desert, about two hours outside of Los Angeles, rests an icon of skateboard lore — the Nude Bowl. Once part of a nudist colony in the 1950s, it was abandoned and later became a favorite spot for adventurous skaters throughout the 1970s and 80s, until it was filled in sometime in the 1990s. A few years ago, it was finally excavated and is now back on the map.
I had always dreamed about what it would be like to visit this legendary pool. In 2017, I had the chance to spend a day there with a close mate of mine, and it’s an experience I’ll never forget. Being there felt quieter and more surreal than expected — isolated, worn, and layered with history.
The work here is an attempt to capture the energy of that experience. Alongside the photography, I created custom illustrative and graphic pieces as a way to translate the feeling of the place rather than simply document it. This is an ongoing body of work, and I’ll continue to add to it over time.
SKETCHES
Art Direction: Matt Graber