Join Mason Exhibitions on Saturday, June 21, 7-10pm at Mason Exhibitions Arlington for a Reception for The Invisible Skate Theory.
THE INVISIBLE SKATE THEORY
The theory that we can, or already are, connected through skateboarding in a way we cannot see.
Mason Exhibitions Arlington
June 4 - August 16, 2025
Curated by Gato
Skateboarding has always existed on the fringe of cities, of systems, and tradition. The Invisible Skate Theory explores the community built in these edges, creating new spaces and paying homage to those that paved the way. Where they’ve long been left out yet continue to pay it forward.
Rooted in the DMV’s growing skate scene and expanded through digital platforms like Instagram, this exhibition centers the often-unseen networks of connection, care, and co-creation that hold today’s skateboarding culture together.
It tells the story of how skaters without industry access have made their own maps finding each other through meetups, zines, pop-up events, and social media. It highlights pivotal moments like the 2024 arrival of Bolivia’s all-female skate collective, Imilla Skate, to Washington, D.C. brought by the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. That cross-cultural exchange continues to ripple across communities and coasts.
This exhibition also looks at the imbalance that persists: women are skating, but they are still underrepresented in leadership, industry, and visibility — especially outside of major hubs like NYC and LA. In the DMV, that gap is being closed not by big brands, but by organizers, artists, and everyday skaters doing the work on their own terms.
The Invisible Skate Theory poses the question of how this connection can expand further through the shared moments in this exhibition. While celebrating the behind-the-scenes labor, friendships, and the powerful force of finding a place to belong. It’s about movement, across cities and communities, and what happens when those movements align.