Petersen Automotive Museum Dedicates One Whole Year For Special Motorcycle Exhibition

Metallic hardware loops through a towering red building in the Miracle Mile neighbourhood where all types of automotives have lived and are living in. But its beauty runs deeper, and becomes more expensive as you go inside because coming to the Petersen Automotive Museum is a whole line of custom motorcycles.

Seems like the perfect time to go to L.A. for a holiday, eh?

(Image: KPF)

 

Starting April 14, the Petersen will dedicate its space to a guest-curated ‘Custom Revolution’ show for one whole year. 25 motorcycles from 25 different bike builders that have never been seen together or even exhibited in a museum space will be featured.

 

The museum’s creative and exhibitions director, Bryan Stevens, told the LA Times that the idea for this motorcycle-dedicated exhibition came in the early 2000s when he was still living in Downtown Los Angeles near Ian Barry’s garage.

With the direction of motorcycle historian Paul D’Orleans of Vintagent, guests will surely be more knowledgeable of what is known as alt custom design.

The exhibition will include iconic machines such as Ian Barry's Black Falcon, Mark Atkinson and Mehmet Doruk's BMW Alpha, El Solitario's Petardro, Kingston Custom's White Phantom, Revival Cycle's J63 Ducati, Shinya Kimura's Needle, Roland Sands' 2 Stroke Attack and Medaza Cycles' Rondine.

“Every motorcycle history ever written has been driven by factory histories, but in fact it has been the creativity of custom designers and racers that has always been the leading edge,” said D’orleans. “Factories follow, not the other way around.”

There are a few motorcycles in the Petersen’s permanent exhibit since the late 2015 remodel and reopening, but Petersen personnel still hope that attendees, even car enthusiasts, will be more knowledgeable about motorcycles. 

 

Richard Varner, treasurer of the Peterson and COO of MotoAmerica, said, “People may forget that the first motorized vehicles were actually motorcycles.

“Everything that you love about the automobile probably started as technology on a motorcycle.”

The Petersen has always been devoted to the art and science of four-wheeled vehicles, so there might be some confusion as to why the museum is venturing seemingly out of its scope.The museum’s creative and exhibitions director, Bryan Stevens, assured its loyal followers that the upcoming exhibition will be in line with its overall identity.

 

“In all our exhibits we try to look for cultural crossover, and this is a phenomenon that melds motorcycles and art and even fine art, as well as engineering and fabrication," Stevens said. “Many of these motorcycles are meant not to be driven but to be contemplated, like an art piece.”

Entrance admission costs $16 for adults, $13 for seniors and students and $8 for children. Tickets can be purchased online or at the museum directly.