Danny Lyon: The Bikeriders
August 2 – January 18, 2026
Member Opening: August 2, 2025, 4:00 – 7:00 PM
The Booth Museum is proud to present Danny Lyon: The Bikeriders, an exhibition of 50 powerful black-and-white photographs by celebrated documentary photographer and filmmaker Danny Lyon. Created betwen 1963 and 1967, this groundbreaking body of work captures Lyon’s experience as a young photographer immersed in the world of the Chicago Outlaws Motorcycle Club. Telling the story from within, Lyon documented people his own age — outsiders living on the edge of mainstream society—during a period of profound cultural change.
The Bikeriders presents a raw an poetic portrait of a fiercely independent subculture. Lyon’s photographs, paired with his own text and transcribed interviews with fellow club members, capture moments of brotherhood, freedom, defiance, and vulnerability. His approach broke with traditional documentary methods, placing the photographer inside the story and resulting in work that feels immediate, empathetic, and deeply human. Widely regarded as a landmark in 20th-century photography, The Bikeriders blends personal storytelling and documentary form with striking honesty.
Members are invited for an exclusive member opening on August 2, 2025, 4:00 – 7:00 PM. Members can choose to register for a 4:00 PM Gallery Walk and a 5:00 PM Reception or a 4:00 PM Reception and a 5:00 PM Gallery Walk. At 6:00 PM, join us in the Bergman Theatre for a special lecture by Terry Etherton, Owner and President of Etherton Gallery. A respected gallerist and longtime friend of Danny Lyon for five decades, Etherton will offer personal insights into the artist’s process and the enduring significance of The Bikeriders. A Q&A session will follow the presentation.
Registration for Member Opening:
4:00 PM Gallery Walk | 5:00 PM Reception
4:00 PM Reception | 5:00 PM Gallery Walk
Photo: Danny Lyon, Route 12 – Wisconsin, 1966, 16 x 20” modern gelatin silver print, Copyright Danny Lyon / Magnum Photos, www.instagram.com/dannylyonphotos, www.bleakbeauty.com, Courtesy of Etherton Gallery
