Leila Nazarian was born in California and resided in Iran and Paris before relocating to Santa Monica to start Eclectic Decks. It is a modern art and Lifestyle Company that designs skateboards by combining traditional art styles from around the world on a digital platform.

Nazarian's enthusiasm for travel, cultural diplomacy, and the beach all affect the brand, which is a blend of East and West, old and modern, diverse and laidback. The skateboards are manufactured in Southern California, the origin of skate culture, and the prints and designs come from artists around the world.

Each series in the Eclectic Decks range is inspired by a different culture, merging time-honored prints and designs with the traditional wooden skateboard.

“Even if as an art piece or on the lane, we hope that these skateboards will pique your interest in other cultures,” says Nazarian. She was recently in Dubai to respond to questions from Gulf Today.

She shares, “I'm not the finest skater, to be sure. Skateboarding has always appealed to me because of its counterculture aspect, and its origins and tradition in Southern California, where it began in the 1960s as a substitute to surfing when the surf was too weak, and then they began skating in barren swimming pools during Los Angeles droughts in the 1970s. It holds a special spot in American popular culture, and it's interesting to see its presence and appeal spread around the world”.

How distinct is your skateboard art from that of others?

It's quite different. Particularly when it comes to traditional skateboard graphics that are heavily inspired by the 1970s. I attempted to make something by combining this iconic Los Angeles item with time-honored designs and craftsmanship.

What inspired you to build Eclectic Decks?

While studying for my Master's degree in public diplomacy at the University of Southern California, I undertook a course called "Cultural Diplomacy," which concentrated on the importance of the arts and culture in connecting diverse cultures and bring communities together. The concept of merging these two ideas has stayed with me ever since. Given my Southern California birthplace and the skateboard deck's prized reputation as a conceptual art artifact, and my interest in Iranian traditional arts, I figured it would be insightful to combine this classic beach-lifestyle item with art influenced by my Iranian heritage. Eclectic Decks has been committed to the sharing of diverse cultures through the development of art pieces that expand our mutual awareness and foster conversation.

The US is known as a culturally isolated nation. Has your art eroded this impression?

My experience of living in such a diverse and multinational community as Los Angeles has taught me the opposite. It is a regional melting pot that has played a crucial role as a subnational player in confronting global challenges. It is also worth noting that Los Angeles has the biggest Iranian immigrant population outside of Iran.

As an Iranian-American living in Los Angeles, I haven't encountered any difficulties; however, I think that I may not have had a similar encounter in other, less diverse cities in the United States, that's why I'd want to broaden Eclectic Decks' presence in other areas of the world.

Has skateboard art helped you rediscover Iranian culture since you were born in the US?

It has undoubtedly assisted me in uniquely discovering Iranian art and culture. In my most recent body of work, I traveled to Esfahan, a city in central Iran, and hired one of the city's finest artisans to produce Persian marquetry, also known as khatamkari, on clean skateboard decks that I had brought from Southern California. The artist had to cover each centimeter of space with up to 250 bits of bronze, bone, ivory, and wood, placed side by side and fused together in phases.

The interaction between the conventional and the contemporary helps to add a fresh appreciation to mundane artifacts that are often forgotten. One of the most unique aspects of this project was the comradeship and concept sharing between me and the artisans.

Transformation of the skateboard into a cultural artifact that is kicked, stomped, and thrown in storeroom corners. How does skateboard art influence you?

My skateboard artwork has improved my life as an artist by pushing myself to see something creatively and comfortable of experimentation, even when it sometimes makes me feel awkward.

How far have you traveled by road? What else would you do?

I am still in the early stages of this trip, but I intend to move even further discovering new mediums and cultures from other countries and promoting cooperation between artists from various backgrounds. These cultural experiences push individuals out of their comfort zone and onto a thrilling cross-cultural adventure, which can lead to the development of something astonishing.