Unconventional

The world of Barbtropolis isn’t confined to canvas or walls. It thrives on rescued objects, forgotten surfaces, and anything that deserves another chance at life.

I love transforming the overlooked — giving everyday items new energy and meaning through paint, character, and color. A surfboard, a cooler, a pair of shoes… each one carries a story, and paint helps it tell a new one.

Some pieces you can wear, some you can ride, some you simply stop and take in. Art doesn’t have to hang on a wall to make an impact. In the right moment, it can live anywhere — and go anywhere.

  • Dom's Shortboard (2023)

    Acrylic on Surfboard

    5.6 Ft

    There’s a book called Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life by William Finnegan, and if you’ve read it, you know who Domenic is. This was one of his boards (yes, he has quite the quiver). How I met him — and how I ended up with his board — is a story best told over whiskey sours.

    What I can say is that it became a canvas that brings together so many of my favorite things. I painted it slowly over six months, and to date, I consider it my masterpiece.

    (Not for sale — part of the artist’s personal collection.)

  • Soft Top - Bottom Half (2022)

    Acrylic on soft top surfboard

    5 Ft approximately

    "Locals Surf School" gifted me a broken soft-top surfboard to experiment with.
    Back in the studio, I cut it in half, sanded it down, patched it up, and gave it a new life as a canvas. What was once destined for the trash became something entirely new—part sculpture, part painting, part story.

    Upcycling discarded materials is one of my favorite ways to create. It keeps useful objects out of landfills and gives them a second chance to live with character and purpose.

    (SOLD)

  • Soft Top - Top Half (2022)

    Acrylic on soft top surfboard

    4.5 Ft approximately

    "Locals Surf School" gifted me a broken soft-top surfboard to experiment with.
    Back in the studio, I cut it in half, sanded it down, patched it up, and gave it a new life as a canvas. What was once destined for the trash became something entirely new—part sculpture, part painting, part story.

    Upcycling discarded materials is one of my favorite ways to create. It keeps useful objects out of landfills and gives them a second chance to live with character and purpose.

    (SOLD)

  • Monkey

    Paint on ceramic
    4 × 2 × 3.3 in
    Sometimes I stumble on random objects that I just have to make my own. I found this little monkey and couldn’t resist bringing it into my world.

    Price: $300

  • Vans (2023)

    Custom-painted directly onto the shoe’s surface—no prints, no templates.


    These are one-of-a-kind, wearable pieces of Barbtropolis. Here’s how it works: you purchase the shoe of your choice and have it shipped to my studio. Once it arrives, I paint it by hand, and then ship it back to you—transformed into a walking work of art.

    (Commissioned)

  • Green Stans Nr.2 (2022)

    Custom-painted directly onto the shoe’s surface—no prints, no templates.

    (Commissioned)

  • Green Stans Nr.1 (2022)

    Custom-painted directly onto the shoe’s surface—no prints, no templates.


    This pair I made for my daughter. Because, of course!

  • Pink Stans (2021)

    Custom-painted directly onto the shoe’s surface—no prints, no templates.

    This pair was made just for me.
    You might catch me wearing them around sometimes.

  • Igloo Cooler (2022)

    Acrylic on 9-quart Igloo Cooler

    15 x 10 x 14 in

    Commissioned by Albany Barn Inc. and Upstate of Mind as part of "THE COOLER SHOW."

    (Commissioned and Auctioned Off)

  • Fluid Bear (2024)

    Acrylic Marker on Fluid Bear

    9 in

    A limited series of five hand-painted Fluid Bears, each painted directly onto the surface. Each one has its own personality, no two are alike.
    3 of 5 sold — 2 still available.

    Price: $600 USD

  • Bearbrick (2023)

    Acrylic Marker on Bearbrick

    11 in

    Collaborated with a fellow artist to create a joint piece—each of us painting one half of the Bear.
    The completed work was later exhibited as part of a graffiti show, celebrating the intersection of styles and shared creative energy.

    (SOLD)

  • Orangeade

    Acrylic on RFP surfboard fin.

    (SOLD)

  • Kooky

    Acrylic on RFP surfboard fin.

    (Commissioned)

  • Snow

    Acrylic on RFP surfboard fin.

    (SOLD)

  • Golden Mini

    Acrylic on 'side bite' surfboard fin.

    Price: $250 USD

  • Silver, Mini

    Acrylic on 'side bite' surfboard fin.

    Price: $250 USD

  • Forest, Mini

    Acrylic on 'side bite' surfboard fin.

    Price: $250 USD

  • White I

    Acrylic on RFP surfboard fin.

    (SOLD)

  • White II

    Acrylic on RFP surfboard fin.

    (SOLD)

  • White III

    Acrylic on RFP surfboard fin.

    (SOLD)

  • Palm

    Acrylic on RFP surfboard fin.

    Price: $300 USD

  • Mojito

    Acrylic on RFP surfboard fin.

    (SOLD)

  • Violet

    Acrylic on RFP surfboard fin.

    (Auctioned Off)

  • Strawberry

    Acrylic on RFP surfboard fin.

    Price: $300 USD

  • Mintarita

    Acrylic on longboard fin.

    Created for the Annual "Single Art Fin Show" in collaboration with the Women's Surf Film Festival, 2023

    (Commissioned and Auctioned Off)

  • Monster Reef

    Created for the Annual "Single Art Fin Show" in collaboration with the Women's Surf Film Festival, 2022

    Acrylic on longboard fin.

    (Commissioned and Auctioned Off)