Friday, August 1 | 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Architecture Center Houston
Admission: Free
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How can we design cities that encourage movement, creativity, and community? Join architect, designer, multidisciplinary artist, professional skateboarder, Olympian, and 2026 Skateboarding Hall of Fame inductee Alexis Sablone for an engaging discussion on how movement shapes the way we experience and reinterpret public space.
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Drawing from a career that seamlessly bridges architecture and skateboarding, Sablone will explore how the creative appropriation of urban environments can inspire more inclusive, playful, and dynamic cities. Through stories from both architectural practice and professional skateboarding, attendees will discover how public spaces can become destinations that invite participation, exploration, and connection for people of all ages and backgrounds.
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Alexis Sablone holds a BA from Barnard College, Columbia University, and a Master of Architecture from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where they were both the Ida C. Green Fellow and recipient of the Imre Halasz Thesis Prize. Their work combines architecture, design, and skateboarding through the creation of hybrid skatescapes and large-scale interactive sculptures that challenge traditional ideas of public space.
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As one of skateboarding's most influential figures, Sablone has competed on the world's biggest stages as an Olympian and was inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame in 2026, recognizing a career that has shaped modern skateboarding both on and off the board. Their unique perspective demonstrates how skateboarding serves as an exceptional model for designers—showing how thoughtfully designed public spaces can be creatively shared and enjoyed by a diverse community spanning all skill levels, ages, backgrounds, and genders.
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Currently a fellow at the University of Chicago's Gray Center for Arts and Inquiry, Sablone recently co-taught a course examining the intersection of skateboarding culture, performance, and urban space. Their interdisciplinary approach continues to influence the future of public design by encouraging cities to embrace movement, play, and meaningful human connection.
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This special presentation is held in conjunction with The Kinetics of Urban Movement, August 1, 2026 at 2pm and compliments an ongoing show on view at the Architecture Center Houston running from June 18 through September 26.
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Whether you're interested in architecture, urban planning, design, skateboarding, or the future of public spaces, this is a unique opportunity to hear from one of the most accomplished and innovative voices working at the intersection of these disciplines.
Exhibition Sponsors & Community Partners
Kinetics of Urban Movement is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance.
Community Partners
- Cherries Wheels
- Honey Skate Club
- Houston Parks and Recreation Department
- Houston Skate Academy
- Select
- Skate ECOSYSTEMS
- Southside Skatepark
