Matthew & Steve Richards

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a PRE-AUCTION only – the online auction will transition to the live auction event at CJ’s SKATEPARK (in Mississauga) on Thursday May 9th, beginning at 7pm.  Event details below.  If you are the high bidder when the online auction is closed at noon on May 8th, your standing bid will carry over to the live auction event at the Skatepark!

Winning bidder can pay for and pick up their items at CJ’s Skatepark during regular hours.

Student: Matthew
Artist: Steve Richards

Message from the team:


“My name is Matthew and I’m a student at OSF. My brand is called Lateral Skateboards. Lateral Skateboards exists to express outward and non-linear thinking in artistic form.

I paired with Stephen Richards for this project, who is a sculptor and a metal fabricator. Steve specializes in executing artists’ creative visions and designs, often using metals such as stainless steel, aluminum and copper. Some of the large public sculptures you find in Toronto were brought to life by Steve, such as Ai Wei Wei’s “Forever Bicycle” installation at Nathan Phillips Square for Nuit Blanche in 2013, as well as his own designs, like solar powered version of an oil donkey (Solar Oil Donkey) on highway 401 near the airport.

Steve used a hydraulic press to create the creases in this stainless-steel rendition of a skateboard. I designed the line work digitally to echo the creases that Steve created and then applied the graphic using a spray paint stencil.”

The Oasis Skateboard Factory (OSF) is an award-winning TDSB alternative high school program where at-risk youth earn credits and graduate by building and selling skateboards and running a small design business. For Oasis Skateboard Factory’s 10 year anniversary, students were partnered with professional artists to create a unique rolling work of art. From adding illustrations and paintings to creating sculptures from cut up decks, OSF students and their artist collaborators go beyond the skateboard form and into the realm of high art.

All boards on display will be displayed at CJ’s SKATEPARK from April 16th – May 9th and will be available for public auction on the online JBM auction site.

On May 9th, the online auction bids will transition to the live auction event at CJ’s SKATEPARK beginning at 7pm where there will be a cash bar serving wine and beer. Proceeds from the auction will go towards supporting OSF’s unique programming.  Parking is free.

CJ’s SKATEPARK is proud to support such an amazing school!