M+B in Los Angeles let us know of the passing of Hugh Holland. They write:
It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of our dear friend and legendary photographer, Hugh Holland, who left us peacefully at the age of 82.
Hugh’s iconic photographs of the Southern California skate scene in the 1970s remain some of the most celebrated images of the era. Hugh’s journey as a photographer began after he moved to Los Angeles in the late 1960s. Though not a skateboarder himself, Hugh had an ability to capture the raw energy, sun-drenched streets, and effortless grace of the young skaters who defined a movement—preserving a fleeting moment before the sport exploded into mainstream culture.
But skateboarding in the 1970s wasn’t just a sport—it was rebellion. Amid the LA drought, when pools across the city sat empty, kids armed with skateboards and a DIY attitude hopped fences and turned abandoned backyard pools into concrete playgrounds. What began as trespassing soon became a cultural movement—anti-establishment, raw, and fearless.
Hugh captured this shift at its core. His photographs immortalized a generation that rejected the mainstream and, in doing so, redefined it. The effortless style of these young outsiders—cut-off shorts, Vans sneakers, sun-bleached hair—became the blueprint for a movement that shaped fashion, music, and street culture for decades to come.
M+B was honored to present three solo exhibitions of Hugh’s work, beginning with Angels in 2006, which led to international recognition. His photographs have been shown in museums and galleries worldwide and featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, NPR, and The Los Angeles Times. His book Locals Only cemented his status as a seminal voice in street photography, and his inclusion in MOCA’s Art in the Streets exhibition in 2011 further solidified his influence.
Hugh’s photographs defined the golden era of skateboarding, preserving its spirit and energy for generations to come.
M+B
612 North Almont Drive
Los Angeles, California 90069
www.mbart.com
@MBLOSANGELES
