About Ikara Skates

About

Ikara Skates transcends the conventional notion of a skate brand, embodying the natural evolution of one of the pioneering and most important shops in the Barcelona skateboarding scene. Its history dates back to January 1991, when it opened its doors on Floridablanca Street in the Eixample Esquerra district, positioning itself as the epicenter of the city's skate subculture. From its inception, Ikara was not only a meeting point, but also the catalyst for a youth revolution that defined a lifestyle with its own identity.

Over time, Ikara established itself as the hub of Barcelona's skater counterculture, playing a pivotal role in distributing the first Californian brands to the Iberian Peninsula in the early 1990s. It also pioneered and organized the first state and national skate championships, establishing a legacy of innovation and avant-garde.

In 2008, the brand expanded its conceptual horizon with the opening of an art gallery under the name Ikara Skate Shop & Gallery , moving to 82 Urgell Street. This new stage represented a dialogue between skateboarding and emerging artistic creation, promoting the intersection between urban aesthetics and contemporary trends.

In 2014, the gallery temporarily closed to make way for new artistic projects, including directing and curating exhibitions by the international artist collective Aura Division .

Behind Ikara Skates is Hun Deok Lee , a multidisciplinary artist and iconic figure of Barcelona skateboarding, whose impact has been evident in various artistic events linked to skate culture. His interventions include collaborations with the Picasso Museum (Big Draw), MACBA and the CCCB , consolidating his presence in the contemporary art scene. In addition to his career in the visual arts, Hun Deok Lee is a musician and composer, with his project Cotton Tree , which in 2021 was awarded in the emerging artist category on Julio Ruiz's prestigious program Disco Grande (Radio 3) .

After years of experimentation and artistic evolution, Ikara is reborn with a new offering: a brand of exclusive products ranging from limited-edition skateboards and designer apparel to graphic art, all imbued with Hun Deok Lee's artistic vision.

This rebirth materializes with the opening of the Ikara Skates Flagship Store , located at Roger de Flor 241, where the synergy between skating, art and music define a comprehensive experience. More than a store, this space stands as a laboratory of identity and attitude, challenging creative boundaries and taking risks in the configuration of a new aesthetic and brand philosophy. The new Flagship store synthesized this synergy, establishing itself as a node of aesthetic expression and disruptive attitude. The store, in the form of an art gallery and pop-up store, was open for a year from 2023 to 2024, thus consolidating the return of Ikara Skates to Barcelona and to the scene by holding several events related to the positioning and promotion of the brand through product launches accompanied by concerts and art exhibitions.