A Spanish style home in Springville, Utah is where avant-garde bronze artist, collector and motorcycle historian Jeff Decker lives and works. Passionate about motorcycles, cars and anything mechanical that has endured decades without being “molested”, it will not surprise you that his office is multi-spaces, its expansion being only limited by the number of rooms available and I guess how much privacy wife Kelly and his 4 children want to keep for themselves. Officially, his desk is this little California 1920’s piece you see at the top of my article, made to suit Spanish style homes of that era and whose main purpose is only to remind Jeff where he can find his iPhone and iPad (!) in case he wants to return calls (!!!), or needs to load new art and motorcycle pictures in his iPhoto digital albums.
But of course, Jeff rarely spends much time at this desk. Most of it is spent in the “Hippodrome Studio”, his sanctuary where he sculpts, cuts, molds, pours, casts, welds, and blasts and does whatever magic contributes to the production of his bronze masterpieces. It’s where his most popular works where born. To name a few: “Wrecking Crew,” a 16-inch tall bust of a pre-20s racer; “Slant Artist,” the 75-pound, 40-inch tall sculpture of a rider fighting an Excelsior hill climber, ”Petrali Racer” an 18-inch lbronze of Joe Petrali at speed aboard his 1937 Knucklehead; “Flat Out at Bonneville,” a depiction of the iconic image of Rollie Free in bathing trunks setting a world speed record aboard his mighty Vincent; and of course “By the Horns” the 16 ft 5000 pound monument he created in front of the Milwaukee Museum.
And when he needs to resource, find new inspiration, Jeff moves to one of his other private rooms where he may sit for long periods contemplating his own rare motorcycles (from a 1941 Crocker to a 1952 Vincent to a 1914 Harley-Davidson to a Cyclone to antique Harley racers…), or revisit his collections of old tools, rare paintings, antique displays and numerous art from other artists and friends.
During my interview, Jeff Decker told me that he is a rather conflicted person. Between creating awesome bronzes, he also loves building silly installations that he always ends up disassembling later. Sometimes he thinks that he should have been an interior decorator and that if he would have been more mechanical or athletic he would have probably left the art for building or racing…
Well, for sure Jeff Decker is very fortunate to make as his career what would otherwise be his devoring passion and hobby. Jeff Decker Studio.
Very friggin cool!
Over & Out,
Jeff
Too cool.
Very impressive. I’m sure his wife Kelley is just as cool accepting his collection in their home. Not many women that understanding from my experiences. ..Z
A true artist in every sense of the word. Personal conflict is part of the package. I’m a fan!
Some amazing and inspirational spaces over here – wow!
I hate Jeff Decker, from the envy.
FreeMason Huh? Me too! Wiz
Can I move in?
Photographs fall way short of conveying the ambience of both Jeff’s home and studio, both of which I have had the very real privilege of visiting. But kudos to Cyril for opening a window into the life of this very talented man, and all round nice guy, who remains unspoiled by fame.
Sweet decor , very nice taste .And quite the artist ..you are the man Jeff..
Clean. ‘,-,’ well laid out ., ‘-.&&&&& COOL. -,-
Wiz,
I knew you would pick up on the Free Mason materials shown!
Over & Out,
Jeff
Jeff Decker a Mormon?
Jeff Decker . What more can be said ? The man built one of the two baddest Vincent customs ( the other being Simon Mills ; Falcons bike is a beauty but Mills and Deckers are runners ) The ONLY contemporary Crocker Custom ( shows the man has stones , and is irreverent as all _____ ) and to top it all off his Day Gig is being one of the best sculpture artists of the modern day.
If that isn’t the very definition of ‘ Cool ‘ and/or ‘ Hip ‘ then I don’t know what is .
Seriously Cyril I personally could do with about another ten pages on Mr Decker ; maybe the next round focusing exclusively on his incredible M/C collection and especially his Customs
I almost bought some Apartment Buildings in Springville.
Jeff Decker is honestly most most humble and talented person I have ever met. I only met him once for a brief second in Daytona but humble does not describe the man at all.
Talent aside he is a gentleman. Nuff said.
Steel Choppin: Jeff is the complete opposite of humble – and he’ll admit it! Clearly your “brief second” made you mistake polite for humble. Damn talented, definitely. Great taste, yes. Humble, no way.
Guitar Slinger: Jeff’s custom Vincent is incredible. But is it true that Falcon’s is a non-runner? How do you know?
cool beans!
Rufus ; Yes I know for a fact that the Black Falcon is not a runner . How do I know ? Suffice it to say my contacts in the VOC and thats all I’m really willing to divulge . It was started once . Never ridden : and has not been heard from since I’m sorry to say . Shame to see a bike like that not ridden .
I’m not surprised about your ‘ humble ‘ comments about JD BTW . All us ‘ Artist ‘ types have to have a certain amount of ego , just to do what it is we do . The only question being how we chose to express that ‘ego ‘ . Hopefully you keep it to your art , but admittedly far too many of us spread that ego out into our personal and public relationships ; which then becomes arrogance …. to which there is no excuse for
Do anybody know which of his sculptures is the cheaperest? I likes em.
Great cyril!
All artists are both unsecure and have a big ego. Both sides feed each othe because you are as good as your last work/art. It’s the nature of being an artist. .
Way cool! Thanks for the cool pics and insight.
-Darin
Thank you Jeff for let us in.
> DUHL ; Jeff’s little ‘ Mascots’ are the least expensive ( never say cheapest to an artist ) sculptures he makes . They’re small , cool , a bit abstract and a whole lot of fun . Click on the highlighted Jeff Decker Studio ( blue ) in the article above and visit his online ‘ store ‘
I want to put Motorcycles in my living room! And a Hot Rod as well!
Well I am not one to confuse kindness for weakness. I am a nobody and he returns my emails and was kind to me in public. When I said humble I meant in nature not necessarily in skill, he deserves to be the “opposite of humble” in my book.
A true renaissance man. Working tools and the All Seeing eyes, I can’t imagine my life without the Fraternity. Wiz, always a pleasure to meet a Brother.
Does anyone have an email for Jeff?
Does anyone have an email for Jeff? I can’t seem to pick one up, but I’m not a big computer browser
jd@jeffdeckerstudio.com