David Mann (artist)
David Mann (September 10, 1940 — September 11, 2004) was a California graphic artist whose paintings celebrated biker culture, and choppers. Called "the biker world's artist-in-residence," his images are ubiquitous in biker clubhouses and garages, on motorcycle gas tanks, tattoos, and on T-shirts and other memorabilia associated with biker culture. Choppers have been built based on the bikes first imagined in a David Mann painting.
David Mann | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 10, 1940 Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | September 11, 2004 (aged 64) |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Kansas City Art Institute |
| Known for | Painting, illustration |
| Movement | Biker art |
| Awards | Kansas City Custom Car Show 1963 "Hollywood Run" AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame 2004 National Motorcycle Museum (Anamosa, IA) Hall of Fame – Promotion Category 2004 |
| Patron(s) | Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, Easyriders magazine |
In the words of an anthropologist studying biker culture in New Zealand, "Mann’s paintings set ‘outlaw’ Harley chopper motorcycles against surreal backgrounds, and distorted skylines, colourful images that celebrated the chopper motorcycle and the freedom of the open road ... Many of his images captured the ‘Easyrider’ ethos – speed, the open road, long flowing hair – freedom." Most of his works were designed for the motorcycle industry, especially for motorcycle magazines.