Bronze Hill Climber Statue is a Masterpiece of Masterwork
Iconic work captures the very embodiment of Harley-Davidson.
Alternative Struggle
Artist Jeff Decker once stated, “Art classes at university didn’t motivate me, yet I kept finding excuses to stay in the arts.” His alternative path to creativity culminated in 2008, with what he calls his 'masterwork.' Located on the grounds of the Harley-Davidson Museum, By the Horns is an iconic work that captures both struggle and determination—the very embodiment of the Motor Company.
Captured Life
Commonly known as The Hill Climber, the dramatic work was a shared vision between Decker and Willie G. Davidson. The project's development was captured by his equally motorcycle-obsessed friend and celebrated artist, David Uhl—who described his depiction as a “Rembrandtesque representation of the sculptor working passionately, feverishly late into the night to bring his latest masterpiece to life.”
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Practical Introduction
At sixteen feet tall, By the Horns weighs in at 5,000 pounds. The bronze rider and his bike are scaled up to one and half times life. Like all good art, its meaning and significance are multi-layered. On an individual level, the sculpture is emblematic of Decker's eminently practical introduction to working with metal and his path to making it an art form.
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Progress Method
In an interview with an online gallery, The Krakens, Decker recounted his early creative days. While searching for relevance, he took a low-paying job at a foundry. He rationalized, “The foundry offered a skill I could use in restoring motorcycles as well as casting sculpture.” Yet, Decker is also quick to point out, “I never have much or had any method to my progress.”
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Slope Piece
By the Horns is an homage to the daring Hillclimb riders of yesteryear, while drawing on the grit of rodeo bull riders. The sculpture depicts a racer about to lose control of his 1930 DAH factory-built racer on a steep slope. Decker stated that a key piece of inspiration was this photograph of racer Mal Ord at the San Diego Hillclimb in 1930.
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Family Donation
Initially, Decker had produced a small version of the work even before the museum opened. He recounted a visit from Willie G. Davidson. “Willie walked in, about a year or two before the museum opened, he looked at the piece and said, Okay, we want one of these. The museum’s for sure, and the Davidson family wants to donate something.”
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Heroic Deal
The acquisition plan escalated during the visit. Decker recalled, “He [Willie] said let’s go all out, let’s go life-size. And then I think, you know, life-size is just not that magnificent. So I came back and said let’s do 'heroic,' let’s do life-and-a-half.” With a handshake deal, Decker put everything on hold to finish the sculpture, knowing it would be his masterwork.
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Official Rider
After the launch of By the Horns, Decker was appointed as an official artist for Harley-Davidson. An avid collector and enthusiast, he owns a DAH, one of only a handful of factory racers ever built. Reflectively he stated, “There is nothing that embodies the urgency of our age and the modern synergy of man and machine better than a motorcycle and its rider.”
>>Join the conversation about this By The Horns statue right here in the Harley-Davidson Forum!
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