COLUMBUS, OHIO.- The eye-catching exhibit showcases 26 fine-art photographs of motorcycles and their riders, gathered over two decades by commercial artist Michael Lichter. Called "Biker Generation," the exhibit features images that transcend the machines and riders depicted, revealing intriguing personalities and lifestyles.

Lichter began taking pictures when he was 13 years old, thanks to the loan of a World War II-era Pentacon camera from his father. Photography quickly became his passion, and after high school he went off to live with a group of 11 other photographers at Apeiron Workshops, a "photo farm" in Millerton, NY.  Lichter then moved to Colorado, where he majored in Fine Arts at the University of Colorado in Boulder.

In 1982, he opened his own photography studio in Boulder. The studio proved successful, and commercial work, including two cookbooks, numerous annual reports and many product shots, became the bulk of his business. "Biker Generation" marks Lichter’s return to exhibiting and selling his motorcycle photography – something he has not done in almost 20 years.

Lichter’s motorcycle photographs first appeared in Easyriders magazine in the early 1980s, three years after he gave up his career as a bebop drummer and took up riding. His first major assignments took him to the Sturgis, Laconia and Daytona rallies aboard his customized 1971 Harley-Davidson Shovelhead. Although many of his subsequent motorcycle-themed works have focused on specific bikes, Lichter has returned to capture the spirit of the "The Big Three" many times over the years.

Today, the photographer can claim more than 600 published stories on motorcycles and motorcycling, including sixty magazine covers. His images have been exhibited at the Gallery of Photography in Dublin, Ireland; the Apex Gallery and the Journey Museum in Rapid City, South Dakota; the Belknap Mill Gallery in Laconia, New Hampshire; the DCPA galleries in Denver, Colorado; and the Jan Bachman Gallery in Boulder, Colorado. His work resides in both public and private collections, including those of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company; Bibliotheque Nationale de France; Atlantic Richfield Company; and the Bellview (Washington) Art Museum.

"Biker Generation: 20 Years of Motorcycle Photography by Michael Lichter" will remain at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum through October 1, 2002. In addition to the prints on display in the Museum, a number of the exhibit’s 26 images are also displayed in the nearby lobby of the American Motorcyclist Association’s headquarters.

Limited-edition prints can be purchased directly from Michael Lichter Photography, while posters and postcard books of selected images are available in the Museum’s gift shop.

The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is set conveniently in the central Ohio Columbus suburb of Pickerington, just off Interstate 70. The Museum is more than just a wide range of motorcycles on display, its goal is to tell the stories and history of motorcycling. By virtue of its connection with the AMA and that organization’s history, the museum honors those who have contributed notably to our sport – be it racers like Dick Mann, designers like Craig Vetter, or publishers like Floyd Clymer. These are some of the more than 200 motorcyclists who are enshrined into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame, one of the museum’s main galleries. A walk past the long wall honoring them will help you conjure the sights and sounds of these motorcycling’s greats.

In addition to the Hall of Fame, the Museum has three major exhibition halls. Museum staff in consultation with collectors, curators and other experts, define exhibition topics. But the motorcycles in the Museum are just the beginning. Riding gear, photos, literature, sculpture, race-track reconstructions, dioramas, posters, awards, quality casework, graphics and more are used to tell the stories of motorcycling, bringing our heritage to life.

The main exhibits are in place for about two years to allow the greatest visitation and enjoyment. The museum also offers smaller special interest exhibits that change more frequently. This Web site is probably your best source for information about new and upcoming exhibits.