FREE SKATE, 2025
MFA Thesis
Free Skate explores dynamics of representation and identity within marginalized communities,
focusing specifically on the skateboarding subculture in New York City. This project focuses on
non-traditional skaters: women, queer, and non- binary individuals, exploring themes of identity,
resilience, and the redefinition of womanhood through their participation in a predominantly
male-centric sport. The material approach draws on the tactile underground authenticity and
the raw grit of skateboarding, offering a genuine contrast to the commodified and superficial
depictions of male skaters commonly seen in mainstream media. Free Skate asserts the
visibility and agency of these skaters, challenging narratives and redefining what it means to be
a woman, queer, or non-binary skater in a traditionally male-dominated space.
Free Skate is a celebration of identity and empowerment, affirming that visibility is claimed, not
given, and these skaters carve their own path.
“Creative and rooted in the real-world subculture of women, queer, and nonbinary
skateboarders, Lia-Alexi Manfredi’s Free Skate celebrates the individuals that make up this
dynamic community. Manfredi’s engaging portraits, short form video projected onto sculptural
installation of a quarter pipe, and takeaway zines make for a comprehensive exploration of an
alternative to the male-dominated sport of skateboarding. The work feels genuinely
collaborative and attunes viewers to less visible worlds of women, queer, and nonbinary
skaters.”
By Noelle Thréad
Senior Photo Editor at The New Yorker