During her art studies in Santa Cruz, Caia Koopman was part of the city's 80s punk rock scene. As a skate enthusiast, the artist began her professional career designing decks for skate and snowboards. Koopman continues to live in the California coastal city. However, her art, now on canvas, is shown in galleries around the world. Her work can be found on her collaboration with URBAN NATION on Project M/14 in 2019. […]
During her art studies in Santa Cruz, Caia Koopman was part of the city’s 80s punk rock scene. As a skate enthusiast, the artist began her professional career designing decks for skate and snowboards. Koopman continues to live in the California coastal city. However, her art, now on canvas, is shown in galleries around the world. Her work can be found on her collaboration with URBAN NATION on Project M/14 in 2019.
Koopman’s parents were conservationists, and the artist lives with a deep awareness of the dangers of environmental pollution. She incorporates this problem into her paintings by invoking nature in the form of birds, flowers, animals and other creatures. In the midst of these visual fantasies lurk “Día de los Muertos” skulls, cute but macabre memories of the interlocking yin and yang of life and death. By incorporating this symbolism and other thoughtful details, Koopman succeeds in linking seemingly contrary ideas and emotions. Her work is particularly popular in the action sports industry. In addition to collaborating with sunglass manufacturers, her designs continue to adorn snowboards, skis and more.
