VOL. 50 ISSUE 10 MARCH 12, 2013
P57
EY PAINTER
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY LARRY LAWRENCE
W
David Uhl works
on his latest
creation during
the recent
Dealer Expo in
Indianapolis.
hen David Uhl first saw Harley-Davidson's archival black & white photos of motorcycling scenes from the
1930s and '40s, it sparked something in him.
The classic bikes, the attention to style in the
gear worn by riders - it all helped inspire Uhl to
celebrate that era by painting it. Since then Uhl
has become perhaps the best known painter
doing motorcycle-related art. His work has
been licensed by Harley-Davidson, has been
displayed throughout the world, and is sought
by serious art collectors and celebrities alike.
Charles Osgood, of CBS Sunday Morning with
Charles Osgood, referred to David as "The Norman Rockwell of Harley-Davidson artists."
We caught up with Uhl at the Dealer Expo in
Indianapolis. He was putting the finishing touches on a work titled "Steampunk Seduction." The
work was somewhat of a departure for Uhl – a
fantasy piece in which he places a modern custom motorcycle and model transported back in
time to Victorian England. He was actually painting at the show and hundreds of people stopped
and casually watched as he worked. Uhl chatted casually with onlookers as he painted and
even continued working on the painting as we
conducted our interview.
How long have you been an artist?
I've been working in art my entire life and
painting for about 14 years. I did a lot of drawing
before that.
Where are you from originally?
Luna Pier, Michigan - about three hours from
here.
When did you start doing motorcycle art?
I did shirts for Harley-Davidson – over 500
