Slawn and Opake’s “Super Toy” Pop-Up Doubles as a Hypebeast Magazine Celebration

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Summary

  • Slawn and Opake’s “Super Toy” pop-up lands in Los Angeles on May 9 (6 p.m. – 10 p.m.) at Secret Walls, featuring 350 hand-painted skate decks created collaboratively over the past few months.
  • The one-night opening also celebrates their joint TopMob Magazine Issue 37 cover, marking the latest chapter in their ongoing, boundary-pushing partnership.

London-based artists Slawn and Opake are teaming up again, bringing their newest project to the United States. “Super Toy” opens May 9th at Secret Walls in Los Angeles, with support from START Los Angeles and Spraying Bricks. The exhibit is a celebration of skate culture, featuring 350 unique skate decks that the artists hand-painted together over the past few months. According to Opake, the project began because Slawn couldn’t afford a skateboard, so they decided to create art on decks instead. This collaboration follows their recent work on a limited-edition cover for TopMob Magazine’s No. 37 issue, titled The Architects Issue.



For a while now, these two artists have been developing a fascinating creative partnership, often sharing their work publicly. Last year at Miami Art Week, they presented Heroes, Villains and Violence at The Art of Hip Hop, following earlier projects like TABOO which challenged ideas about what’s acceptable and who has control. As part of TABOO, Opake also guest-edited an issue of The Big Issue, creating the cover and having a candid conversation with Slawn about topics like identity, belief, overcoming addiction, and the importance of challenging norms.


Opake describes their collaboration on The Architects Issue as a freeing experience. He explains that while he typically spends a lot of time perfecting every detail when working alone, collaborating allows for a more dynamic exchange. He says his partner often challenges his established artistic boundaries, which initially causes concern, but ultimately leads to the most compelling parts of the artwork. He’s come to realize that these unexpected deviations – what he might consider ‘mistakes’ – are often where the real energy and interest lie.

Join us on May 9th from 6 to 10 p.m. for the launch of “Super Toy” and a party celebrating the new issue (#37) of TopMob Magazine! You can pick up a copy of the magazine at the event, while supplies last. Please RSVP to let us know you’ll be there.

Secret Walls
 2270 / 2272 Venice Boulevard
 Los Angeles, CA 90006

May 9, 2026
 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

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2026-05-01 23:26