
Billy Mann, from Tulsa (1968) skateboard deck
2005
This compelling skateboard deck, featuring Larry Clark's iconic photograph "Billy Mann, from Tulsa (1968)," presents a potent commentary on youth, vulnerability, and the American experience. The monochromatic image, transfer-printed onto plywood, captures a shirtless young man, Billy Mann, seated with a revolver, his gaze directed off-frame. The raw intimacy and stark realism characteristic of Clark's seminal *Tulsa* series are immediately evident, transforming the functional object into a powerful artistic statement. The subject's youthful defiance, contrasted with the dangerous object he holds, creates a tension central to Clark's exploration of adolescence and its inherent complexities. The deck itself, measuring 78.7 × 19.1 × 5.1 cm, serves as both a sculptural object and a dynamic canvas for a pivotal work of photographic history. Created in 2005, this piece recontextualizes one of Clark's most significant images, originally captured in 1968, by placing it within the realm of street culture and contemporary art. The choice of a skateboard deck as a medium is not arbitrary; it directly references the subcultures that Clark has often documented and influenced, particularly through his photographic work and filmmaking. This intentional shift from traditional print to a functional, yet art-bearing, object underscores the artist's ongoing engagement with youth rebellion, authenticity, and the blurring lines between high art and everyday life. The acrylic, transfer-printed surface ensures the photographic detail is preserved, allowing the evocative power of Mann's portrait to resonate within a new, dynamic context. For collectors, this edition represents a unique convergence of significant photographic art and contemporary design, encapsulating Clark's enduring legacy as a chronicler of marginalized youth while also highlighting his innovative approach to disseminating his work beyond conventional gallery spaces.
- Medium
- Acrylic, transfer-printed plywood
- Location
- Wright, Chicago, United States
🔨 Auction Lot
Wright: 20|21 Art: The Chicago Edition (July 2022)
July 14, 2022
Estimate: $700 to $900
Lot 131
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