Romain de Marchi - Hemsedal 2002
Acrylic Painting on Canvas – 40x32” (101x811cm)

Romain de Marchi – Hemsedal pays tribute to one of snowboarding’s most iconic images — Romain soaring above the sculpted Norwegian terrain in a moment that defined an era. Originally photographed by Brusti and famously featured on the cover of VIVID, this legendary shot has been reimagined through Stuart Leonard’s electric, expressive brushwork, painted with Brusti’s full permission.

Leonard amplifies the drama and scale of the scene: the towering wind-lipped feature rendered as a sweeping crimson wave, the sky cascading in rich magentas and pinks, and Romain floating high above it all, suspended in a moment that feels both impossible and effortless. The small figure of the filmer below anchors the composition, emphasising the magnitude of Romain’s flight and the raw creativity of freestyle snowboarding in its golden years.

This painting celebrates not just a trick, but a cultural milestone — a moment where rider, location, photographer, and vision aligned into something timeless. Bold, reverent, and full of movement, Romain de Marchi – Hemsedal stands as a vibrant homage to one of the sport’s greats and to Brusti’s unparalleled eye behind the lens.

A must-have piece for collectors who love snowboard history, iconic imagery, and the fusion of sport and art at its most powerful.

Note: I have kept hold of this piece since I painted it in 2015, I now feel it is time to let this one go.