In Collaboration with Don Pendleton

Some collaborations have history behind them.

We first linked up with artist Don Pendleton back in 2018, bringing his unmistakable artwork off the canvas and onto a collection of Slowtide towels. For us, it was a special one. Don’s iconic work with Alien Workshop and Element helped shape the visual language of skateboarding, and his influence extends far beyond it, from original paintings and gallery shows to large-scale murals and installations.

Years later, we’re excited to be working together again.

For this latest collection, Don drew inspiration from a mural he created for the Huntington Museum of Art, translating its shapes, movement and composition into pieces designed to live within the home. It continues an idea that has connected our work from the beginning: taking genuine artwork and giving it another life through objects you can actually use, hold and live with.

We caught up with Don to talk about reconnecting for another collection, moving artwork between mediums, and where he’s finding inspiration these days.

We first worked together back in 2018. What’s it like coming back together for another collection?

It’s been exciting because Slowtide has evolved as a brand and I feel like I’ve evolved some as an artist so it feels kind of like starting fresh and with new products and different materials this time around. The process of finding the right art and the right color palette felt a little more natural this time as we all came in thinking in a similar direction. It’s tough to whittle down to find the right angle sometimes but this design came together pretty easily.

Your work has lived on skateboards, canvas, walls and now home goods. What do you enjoy about seeing your art take on different forms?

I love seeing my artwork find a practical use. And the approach is typically the same regardless of where it ends up but I think blankets and towels breathe a different type of life into the artwork that it wouldn’t otherwise have and it’s very cool to see that. Last summer I was at a beach and saw one of the beach towels from the first collection out in the wild and that puts things into perspective about how art can also be practical and useful and I enjoy seeing that.

What’s been inspiring you creatively lately?

The world is in a state of serious flux right now so I feel like I’ve been reverting to the things I’ve always loved to keep me going. I have always looked to music and nature, books and films. I tend to rewatch, reread, listen to albums over and over when I find something I love. Those always inspire me to pick up my sketchbook and just start working on shapes and lines which leads to more developed pieces.

Explore previous collaboration video here

Learn more about Don Pendleton here

Explore Don Pendleton x Slowtide Collaboration here