Surfboards-As-Art Garner Celebrity, International Attention

Raleigh, NC, July 05, 2007 --(PR.com)-- Artist Clark Hipolito received “the call of the century,” he said, after his collection of hand-painted, wood-grain surfboards appeared in Waterfront Home & Design magazine this past spring. Alecia Moore, aka Grammy-winning pop star “Pink,” saw the full-color spread in the magazine and called to commission him to create a one-of-a-kind board for husband Carey Hart’s birthday. When she finally convinced him that she was who she said she was, he was delighted to agree.

“That’s one phone call I’ll never forget.” he said.

The call came after Hipolito, 36, debuted his first collection of unique artwork on handcrafted surfboards, entitled “Against The Grain,” in an upscale restaurant in historic Wilmington, North Carolina, last summer. He sold every single board for well over the asking price.

Last month, he unveiled his second collection, again in Wilmington. After Global Surf News.com jumped on the story, two international luxury-living magazines -- Grund Genug of Germany and Khooligan of Russian -- quickly called to request interviews and photographs.

Of Filipino descent, Hipolito finds inspiration in both the Polynesian surfing legacy and Asian art. As he told Waterfront Homes & Design, “There’s a fine line I’m dancing between invoking classical elements and keeping the design hip.”

“Hip” just seems to come naturally to Hipolito. He began his career as an artist for MTV. Since then, his work has been featured on HBO’s “Sex and the City,” and WB’s “Dawson’s Creek” and “One Tree Hill.”

He also owns The Art Company, an interdisciplinary firm that specializes in original murals, faux finishes, and interior design projects.

Clark Hipolito creates his surfboards with longtime friend and fellow artist Tony Ramsi. The boards are shaped by Brian Wynn of Wynn Surfboards in New Jersey, and Adam Price and Hunter Ford of Momentum Surfboards on the east and west coasts.

“Against The Grain” is on display in downtown Raleigh, NC, this month. The show features some of the very first boards Hipolito painted along with his most recent creations, allowing viewers to see the evolution of the idea.

For more information on Clark Hipolito, visit http://www.art-company.com

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