Jeff Decker
Jeff Decker
Born (1966-06-14) June 14, 1966
NationalityAmerican
Alma materBrigham Young University
OccupationSculptor
Known forBronze sculptures, The Hill Climber
SpouseKelly Lei Decker
Websitejeffdeckerstudio.com

Jeff Decker is a sculptor and historian who is known for his bronze sculptures, the most notable of which is titled "By the Horns" (also known as The Hill Climber), a 16-foot-tall, 5,000-pound bronze located on the grounds of the Harley-Davidson Museum.[1] His bronze-cast sculptures depicting the synergy of man and modern machines, particularly historic motorcycles, is known in both the motorcycling community and the world of fine art.[2] As of 2009, Decker was Harley-Davidson's official sculptor.[3]

Professional background

Decker is the son of Allen and Lana Decker. Steeped in the southern California car culture of the 1960s, Decker learned the ways of his father.[4] An intense collector, Decker's father owned one of the area's largest flathead speed equipment collections.

Working full-time at a bronze casting foundry, Decker's first idea was to capture Man's quest for speed in all vehicles. His first sculpture was a 1924 Miller Indy car. Next came the Baby Bootlegger, a 1922 world record-holding speedboat.[5]

On display at Bob Dron Harley-Davidson located in Oakland, California, Decker created a life-size bronze statue from a famous photograph of Joe Petrali showing him astride a Harley Streamliner, taken during Petrali's historic 136 mile per hour record setting run at Daytona on March 13, 1937.[6] and is the only bronze sculpture artist licensed by Harley-Davidson to replicate their products. Decker also created a five-foot-tall, about 1,000-pound bronze of Elvis with a Harley-Davidson motorcycle he owned, a 1956 KHK model.[3]

Bronze Sculptures

NameYearSizeWeight
The 1924 Miller 91 Indy Car199426″ × 12″ × 12″60 pounds
The Baby Bootlegger199542″ × 12″ × 8″60 pounds
The Flying Merkel199722″ × 13″ × 8″55 pounds
Jim Davis Trophy Bust199818″ × 6″ × 6″20 pounds
The 1915 Cyclone199822″ × 13″ × 8″55 pounds
Flat Out at Bonneville199942″ × 12″ × 32″300 pounds
Tilt & Turns199924" x 24" x 12"75 pounds
The 1916 Big Valve Excelsior200022″ × 13″ × 8″55 pounds
The 1912 Indian Big Base 8 valve racer200022″ × 13″ × 8″55 pounds
The 1916 8 Valve Harley-Davidson works racer200022″ × 13″ × 8″55 pounds
Neck and neck with Death20007’ x 2’ x 2’300 pounds
The Bullet 1/2 scale200144″ × 28″ × 28″300 pounds
The Bullet 1/4 scale200222″ × 14″ × 14″50 pounds
Slant Artist200318″ × 14″ × 28″20 pounds
Petrali20037′ × 2′ × 4′800 pounds
Petrali/Marquette-size200418″ × 8″ × 10″25 pounds
Harley-Davidson's 1000+4200418″ × 8″ × 12″20 pounds
Ruby200518″ × 8″ × 12″25 pounds
Daytona200628″ × 22″ × 13″60 pounds
West Was Won200736″ × 20″ × 18″110 pounds
The King and his Ride200718″ × 8″ × 12″30 pounds
By the Horns (The Hill Climber)20089′ × 5′ × 18′5 tons

References

  1. Schmid, John. "Capturing the Harley Spirit". Journal Sentinel. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
  2. Morgan, Felicia. "Rider's Spotlight: Jeff Decker". Cannonball Endurance Run. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
  3. 1 2 Migliore, Greg (February 26, 2009). "Elvis immortalized on bronze Harley". Autoweek. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
  4. "Interview: Jeff Decker". Bike Exif. October 29, 2010. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
  5. "Jeff Decker: Artist, Historian, Motorhead". Ed Youngblood's Motohistory. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
  6. Davis, Miles (January 2007). "Joe Petrali: Hometown Hero". Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader. Woodridge, IL: Dominion Enterprises: 127. ISSN 1051-8088. OCLC 22125719.
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