Berlin is one of the easiest cities in Europe to find skateboard culture, and one of the more confusing places to buy skateboard wall art. Skate shops, galleries, flea markets and online sellers all offer decks, but they are often selling very different things: a deck built to ride, a used board with a story, a collectible graphic, or a piece made from the start to hang on a wall. This guide explains where to look in Berlin, what each option is good for, what to check before you pay, and how buying online from a Berlin maker compares.
Short answer
- Want to see decks in person and support local skating? Visit Berlin skate shops, but expect riding decks with brand graphics rather than art editions.
- Want a one-off artwork? Watch gallery and street-art exhibitions, artist open studios and art fairs, where artist-painted decks sometimes appear.
- Want a used or vintage board? Flea markets and second-hand listings can turn up interesting finds, but you need to check condition and origin yourself.
- Want a specific painting, a matching set, or a deck made for the wall? An online catalogue with clear specifications gives the widest choice. DeckArts prints its decks by hand in Berlin and ships from Berlin.
1. Berlin skate shops
Berlin has a large skate scene, and independent skate shops are the natural first stop. Their strength is riding gear: complete boards, blank decks, decks from skate brands with their seasonal graphics, wheels and trucks. Staff usually know the scene well and can tell you about local artists or brands.
What a skate shop usually does not focus on is decorative art editions. A brand deck can look great on a wall, but its graphic is designed for a board that will be ridden, scratched and replaced. If you want a classical painting, a large set across several decks, or a deck chosen purely for display, you may not find it on the shelf.
Tips for skate shops:
- Check the shop's current website or social profile before you travel. Stock changes quickly, and opening times change too.
- Ask whether a deck is a regular riding deck or a special art or artist edition.
- Ask whether anything for hanging is included. Most decks come without any hardware.
- Look at the deck from the side. A clean, even edge and a straight concave are signs of a well-pressed board.
2. Galleries, exhibitions and open studios
Berlin's gallery and street-art scene means decks painted or printed by artists do appear in exhibitions, group shows, pop-ups and open-studio events. This is where you find true one-offs: a deck that an artist painted by hand, or a small run made for a show.
The trade-off is availability. Pieces are often shown for a short time, prices vary widely, and you usually cannot choose a size or a matching second deck later. If you see something you like, ask the gallery or the artist directly about materials, how the work is finished, and how it should be hung.
3. Flea markets and second-hand sellers
Berlin's weekend flea markets and second-hand platforms are good for used and vintage decks. A ridden board with worn graphics can have real character on a wall, and prices can be low.
Check before you buy:
- Condition: look for cracks, delamination (layers separating at the edges), water damage and warping.
- Origin: if a deck is sold as rare or collectible, ask for production details and clear photos. Do not rely on a rarity claim alone.
- Holes: a used deck has truck holes, and some have extra holes from earlier mounting.
- Cleaning: old grip tape and dirt can be removed, but it takes time. Our guide on cleaning and restoring old decks explains how.
4. Buying online
Online sellers give you the widest selection: whole collections of artworks, matching sets, and decks made specifically for display. The downside is obvious: you cannot touch the deck before buying. That is why product information matters so much. A good listing should tell you the material, the dimensions, what is included, how the deck is hung, and what the returns terms are.
For a wider comparison of marketplaces and specialist stores, see Amazon vs Etsy vs specialist stores and online vs in-person buying in Europe.
Local vs online: a quick comparison
| Local (shops, galleries, markets) | Online | |
|---|---|---|
| See it in person | Yes | No, rely on photos and specifications |
| Selection | Limited to current stock | Large catalogues, sets and themes |
| Art made for the wall | Occasional, mostly in galleries | Common with specialist sellers |
| Matching diptych or triptych | Rare | Available as sets |
| Returns | Depends on the shop | Statutory withdrawal right in the EU (with exceptions, such as custom items) |
| Hanging hardware | Usually not included | Check the listing, often sold separately |
What to look for, wherever you buy
The wood
Most quality decks are made from 7-ply maple: seven thin layers of veneer glued and pressed into shape. Maple is dense and stable, so a deck keeps its shape on the wall for years. Ask what wood the deck is made from and where it was pressed. More detail: Canadian vs Chinese maple for art decks.
The print
On a wall, the graphic is the whole point. Look closely at colour, fine detail and how the image wraps the deck's shape, especially around the nose and tail. For a famous painting, check how the image is cropped to the long, narrow deck format. Good cropping keeps the faces and the key part of the composition on the board.
Size
A single deck is long and narrow, so it works well on narrow walls, beside a door or in a hallway. Above a sofa or a bed, a single deck can look small, and a set across two or three decks usually fills the space better. See our skateboard wall art size guide.
Hanging
This is the point most people forget. A skateboard deck has no hanging hardware on the back, so it is not ready to hang straight out of the box. You need a wall mount. A clear acrylic mount keeps attention on the artwork and makes the deck appear to float slightly off the wall. You need one wall mount per deck. Read the step-by-step guide to hanging a deck safely, or, if you rent and cannot drill, the renter-friendly options.
Horizontal or vertical
Landscape paintings and reclining figures often look best with the deck turned horizontally, as in the Ophelia photo above. Portraits and standing figures usually suit a vertical deck. For a horizontal display there is a dedicated horizontal wall mount. More ideas: horizontal vs vertical hanging.
Returns and what is included
Before you pay, check what exactly is in the box (deck only, or deck plus mount) and the returns terms. Local shops set their own rules. When you buy online from a seller in the EU, you normally have a statutory 14-day right of withdrawal, though made-to-order and personalised items are usually excluded.
Sets: diptychs and triptychs
One of the most striking ways to show a painting on skateboards is to split it across several decks hung side by side. This is hard to find in local shops, because it needs decks that were printed as a set so the image lines up.
- Diptych (2 decks): about 45 × 85 cm on the wall. Works well above a desk, a sideboard or a smaller sofa.
- Triptych (3 decks): about 70 × 85 cm. Makes a strong focal point above a sofa or a bed.
Each deck in a set needs its own mount, so a diptych needs two mounts and a triptych three. Leave the same small gap between the decks so the image reads as one picture.
Browse the diptych collection and the triptych collection, or read how many decks to put on one wall.
DeckArts: a Berlin option
DeckArts is based in Berlin. Our decks are printed by hand in Berlin, on 7-ply Canadian maple blanks pressed in Butzbach, Germany, and every order ships from Berlin. The catalogue covers classical paintings, from the Renaissance to Matisse and Klimt, as single decks, diptychs and triptychs, alongside work by contemporary artists.
A few practical points so there are no surprises:
- The decks are made for the wall. There is nothing on the back, so they are not ready to hang on their own.
- The wall mount is sold separately. You need one mount per deck. See the display accessories.
- Returns: the statutory 14-day right of withdrawal, plus a voluntary 30-day return period. Custom decks are excluded.
- Check each product page for current specifications, what is included and delivery information.
Good starting points are the Renaissance and classical collection, Van Gogh, Klimt and modern art, or simply all decks.
A simple buying checklist
- Decide what you want: a riding deck, a vintage find, a one-off artwork or a deck made for display.
- Measure the wall and decide on a single deck, a diptych or a triptych.
- Check the wood (7-ply maple is the standard) and the print detail.
- Confirm what is included and plan one wall mount per deck.
- Check the returns terms, especially for custom or made-to-order items.
- If buying used, ask for condition photos and production details.
FAQ
Where can I buy skateboard wall art in Berlin?
Locally, look at independent skate shops (mainly riding decks with brand graphics), galleries and art events (artist-made one-offs) and flea markets or second-hand platforms (used and vintage boards). For a wide choice of decks made for display, including matching sets, buy online. DeckArts prints its decks by hand in Berlin and ships from Berlin.
Is a regular skateboard deck good as wall art?
Yes, a riding deck can look great on a wall. Its graphic, however, is designed for a board that gets ridden. If you want a specific painting, a clean finish for display or a matching set, a deck printed for the wall is usually the better choice.
Are skateboard decks ready to hang?
Usually not. Decks have no hanging hardware on the back, so you need a wall mount. Use one mount per deck.
How many wall mounts do I need for a set?
One per deck: one for a single deck, two for a diptych, three for a triptych.
How big is a skateboard diptych or triptych on the wall?
A DeckArts diptych is about 45 × 85 cm and a triptych about 70 × 85 cm.
What wood should a wall art deck be made of?
7-ply maple is the standard for quality decks. It is strong, stable and keeps its shape. DeckArts uses 7-ply Canadian maple blanks pressed in Butzbach, Germany.
Can I return skateboard wall art bought online?
From an EU online seller you normally have a statutory 14-day right of withdrawal, with exceptions for custom or personalised items. DeckArts also offers a voluntary 30-day return period. Custom decks are excluded.
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