This limited series of skateboards is inspired by Throwing Three Balls in the Air to Get a Straight Line (Best of Thirty-Six Attempts), one of John Baldessari’s most iconic works. Created in 1973, the piece consists of 36 photographs taken during a fascinating experiment: Baldessari threw three orange balls into the air, attempting to align them in a straight line while his wife, Carol Wixom, captured each attempt. Of these 36 throws, 12 images were selected to form the final series.
The work embodies several key concepts of Baldessari’s conceptual art: the constant tension between chance and control, the subtle irony in the pursuit of perfection, and the ability to transform an everyday gesture into artistic reflection. Throwing three balls into the air might seem like a trivial experiment—or even a game—but in Baldessari’s hands, it becomes a clever commentary on perception and expectation. The composition, minimalist yet powerful, combines the infinite blue of the Californian sky with the vibrant orange of the balls, creating a visual contrast that is both simple and striking. Each selected image captures a fleeting moment in which precision seems almost impossible, reminding us that art resides not only in the final result but also in the boldness of the attempt. With humor and conceptual clarity, Baldessari encourages the viewer to contemplate not only what they see but also what could have been, exploring the boundary between control, chance, and perception.
The limited edition skateboards consist of 30 sets, each made up of three skateboards that together reproduce one of the selected photographs from the original work. Each skateboard displays an orange ball in mid-air, so the complete set faithfully recreates the image in a visually striking way. It’s a surprising and enjoyable way to bring conceptual art into the tangible world: you can admire the composition in your living room, your studio… or even enjoy it in motion on wheels.
In essence, this limited edition captures Baldessari’s philosophy: the beauty of art lies as much in the boldness of the attempt as in the result, chance and precision can coexist, and a simple act—throwing three balls into the air—can be transformed into an object of reflection and visual enjoyment. It is a unique opportunity to experience conceptual art in a dynamic, striking, and elegant format.
