Gauntlet Gallery — Martha Cooper Print Index
Skateboard For Charity
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Skateboard For Charity is a 2019 black-and-white photographic print by Martha Cooper, issued in a limited run of 55 at 11 x 14 inches (36 x 28 cm). Hand-signed by the artist, the image continues Cooper's decades-long documentation of youth and street culture, here tied to a charitable release framing rather than a purely commercial edition.
Collector notes: First Edition; saved release record states an edition size of 55. The saved release record describes: signed. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
A tight edition of 55 keeps this among Cooper's scarcer photographic releases. The black-and-white treatment aligns with her earliest and most recognizable documentary work, and the charity framing gives the piece a distinct backstory. For collectors, it combines a small print run with Cooper's signature and a clear, self-contained subject.
Collector Perspective
Confirm the hand signature and edition number, as the run is small enough that numbering matters. The bilingual French and English release language points to a European gallery or exhibition context, useful for provenance tracing. Black-and-white prints reward careful lighting and archival framing; check for tonal fading or surface abrasion before acquiring.
Historical Context
Cooper's black-and-white photography reaches back to her formative 1970s and 1980s New York fieldwork, when she documented subway graffiti and street play. A 2019 charity-linked release extends that practice into a philanthropic frame, reflecting how established documentary photographers increasingly channel limited editions toward causes while keeping their aesthetic register intact.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned skate deck
- Release date
- 2019
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- C-Type Photographic Print; catalog dimensions 11 x 14 inches; Couleur / Color : Noir et Blanc / Black and White; Tirage limité / limited proof : 55 tirages / 55 proof.
- Edition details
- First Edition; saved release record states an edition size of 55.
- Signature and marks
- The saved release record describes: signed. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Documented History and Meaning
History note: This page treats Martha Cooper's broader career as background context, not proof that this specific edition belongs to any single exhibition or event. Release-level facts here come from a saved secondary catalog record.
Meaning / interpretation: No per-work artist statement is recorded for this edition. Any thematic reading should be treated as interpretation of the imagery, not a documented statement of the artist's intent. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2019 and attributes the edition to Learn & Skate.
Authentication, Presentation and Provenance
- Original presentation
- Original packaging or presentation was not documented in the release sources reviewed.
- Authentication note
- Compare the support, dimensions, edition number, and signature against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet Gallery does not authenticate works purchased from third parties.
- Provenance note
- Edition origin is attributed in the saved record to Learn & Skate. That does not establish the ownership history of an individual copy: retain the original invoice, reseller or gallery paperwork, labels, correspondence, and condition photographs.
Sources and Verification
Verification status: Secondary catalog snapshot; artist-level context added
- Saved release record — Art Collectorz · secondary catalog snapshot · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Starting record for title, year, edition, dimensions, medium, and release description. Primary confirmation against the original release page remains pending.
- Martha Cooper — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
- Martha Cooper (Q448601) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.
FAQ
How large is the Skateboard For Charity edition?
It was released as a limited run of 55 hand-signed prints.
Is the print color or black and white?
It is a black-and-white photographic print.
What are the dimensions?
The print measures 11 x 14 inches, or approximately 36 x 28 cm.
Is it signed?
Yes, each print is hand-signed by Martha Cooper.
