Sports | Recreation

Acrylic on paper, matted with white frame

22" h x 33" w

Growing up on Hawaii Island, Mark Ley has spent every spare moment in the ocean. Diving, surfing and exploring. When his daughter came along, he shared his love of the ocean with her and over the years, his ohana developed their own form of treasuring hunting. They scour the reefs and beaches, gathering the bits and pieces left behind by other ocean explorers. And surfboard fins, stuck in the reefs, became a favorite find.

But collecting them wasn’t enough.

These reclaimed surfboards are then used to create one-of-a-kind works of art. Using acrylic paints and carefully constructed color palettes, Mark dips the fin into the paint and then presses it onto paper—memorializing the board, the special time with his family, and cleaning the reefs—all while providing us with original works of abstract art.

“There’s an incredible scope of shapes of boards, each with its own story and genre,” shares Mark, and through his work we become ocean explorers ourselves.

Acrylics on surfboard 
86" h x 22" w

Focusing primarily on geometric abstraction, this new endeavor brings together two of Alex's passions–art and surfing. 

Acrylic on canvas 

36" h x 48" w

"There are all kinds of paddling out," shares Mark. "As surfers we paddle out solo, in packs, and for memorials. We sit in circles, lines, and random collections of unique individuals. Boards drifting back and forth with the movement of the ocean and the energy of this gypsy like community. United by a simple shared experience of being in that place, at that time, riding those waves. The power of the now is real and raw." 

 

Acrylic on paper, matted with white frame

22" h x 33" w

Growing up on Hawaii Island, Mark Ley has spent every spare moment in the ocean. Diving, surfing and exploring. When his daughter came along, he shared his love of the ocean with her and over the years, his ohana developed their own form of treasuring hunting. They scour the reefs and beaches, gathering the bits and pieces left behind by other ocean explorers. And surfboard fins, stuck in the reefs, became a favorite find.

But collecting them wasn’t enough.

These reclaimed surfboards are then used to create one-of-a-kind works of art. Using acrylic paints and carefully constructed color palettes, Mark dips the fin into the paint and then presses it onto paper—memorializing the board, the special time with his family, and cleaning the reefs—all while providing us with original works of abstract art.

“There’s an incredible scope of shapes of boards, each with its own story and genre,” shares Mark, and through his work we become ocean explorers ourselves.

Acrylics on surfboard 
86" h x 22" w

Focusing primarily on geometric abstraction, this new endeavor brings together two of Alex's passions–art and surfing. 

Acrylic on paper, matted with white frame

22" h x 33" w

Growing up on Hawaii Island, Mark Ley has spent every spare moment in the ocean. Diving, surfing and exploring. When his daughter came along, he shared his love of the ocean with her and over the years, his ohana developed their own form of treasuring hunting. They scour the reefs and beaches, gathering the bits and pieces left behind by other ocean explorers. And surfboard fins, stuck in the reefs, became a favorite find.

But collecting them wasn’t enough.

These reclaimed surfboards are then used to create one-of-a-kind works of art. Using acrylic paints and carefully constructed color palettes, Mark dips the fin into the paint and then presses it onto paper—memorializing the board, the special time with his family, and cleaning the reefs—all while providing us with original works of abstract art.

“There’s an incredible scope of shapes of boards, each with its own story and genre,” shares Mark, and through his work we become ocean explorers ourselves.