(September 19, 1942 – Feb. 1, 2025)
On Saturday night we lost our good friend, Hugh Holland who was an amazing 70s skate photographer and the nicest human ever.
I feel so lucky that during our years of friendship I got to spend time so much time with him. It was fun to be with him at his gallery openings and book signings, but spending a night listening to Hugh tell me stories about his amazing life and friends, at his favorite Mexican restaurant by the beach are the times I will cherish the most.
He’d often surprise me – he randomly showed up at my book launch, other times while I was speaking at an event and at skate contests I was involved with. He was just always there supporting and being a great friend.
I’m honored that I got to spend a lot of time with him these past few weeks. It didn’t make it any easier to see him go, but I’m glad I did. He was still pure Hugh. He’d say my name as I came in and smile his big smile. We got to hang out and talk about all of his friends, the view, the news and whatever else was on his mind. That’s a gift.
That’s the cool thing about Hugh, his friends automatically become your friends. He left me with some really great people that I know I’ll be in touch with forever. And the Hugh stories will definitely live on.
Hugh, you are loved and missed so very much. I hope you’re up there shooting pictures to your hearts content and watching the beautiful Hermosa Beach sunsets you loved so much.
Cindy Whitehead – Feb 6, 2025
RIP Hugh Holland – (1943-2025) – Hugh (slide 3) moved West during the late ‘60s from Oklahoma to Los Angeles and shot some of my all-time favorite photos – capturing the emerging skateboarding culture in California at the dawn of urethane almost in a Garden of Eden state – so pure you can still see surfing’s umbilical cord. Hugh’s photos simply captured the soul of it all. More than the tricks or progression it was about the scene, geography and the vibe. That place and time that made me fall in love with it. There may have been skateboarders and skateboard culture before the ‘70s version that bubbled up in CA, but I’ve never seen anything look cooler. Living in West LA, I have also been blessed to meet some of the people in these photos and skate the locations they were shot at. … . Hugh passed at age 82 a few weeks ago and I had been meaning to put up a post. Thanks Hugh for capturing such golden moments in skateboard history and sending love to all your friends and family.
~ DeadHippie
Beautiful tribute to Hugh Holland. He was such a sweet, talented guy. Thank you Cindy & SHOF for his memorial.
I met Hugh thru a friend. He was signing his
big beautiful skateboard photo book. It was
the LA Book Fair on the USC campus . Hardly
an occasion to send time together , but he did
and engaged & talked with enthusiasm . I
became a fan , attended another private
signing of his on Sunset Blvd in Silver Lake .
May his memory be blessed , I love you Hugh,
RIP … Dunning Wilson