Commuting by bicycle in New York City twenty years ago opened Taliah Lempert to the joys of urban cycling. She quickly turned that joy into art and began painting to commemorate the cycling community. Exploring how the bicycle relates to the human figure and examining each bicycle's beauty and specific positivity, Taliah's work continues to excite the art and cycling worlds alike.
LifeCycle Biking had an opportunity to connect with Taliah and learn more about her biking lifecycle.
Velox Ace Blur Sketch10
Thanks for taking the time to chat with us, Taliah! Let’s get right to it- who or what brought you to the sport of cycling?
Cycling was always around. My dad was way into it and he would sometimes take my sister and I along in a trailer when he went for road rides. When we got older we rode on the ten speed tandem and when we turned 13 he got us each a nice bike. I didn’t get into the sport of it until I was much older and had bought a track bike because it was beautiful. Once I had it and went to watch my friends race, I decided to race too.
Where are you from? Has your place of origin influenced how much you bike?
I grew up in Ithaca, NY, went to college in Boston and moved to NYC in 1990. I don’t know if living upstate influenced how much I bike as I took a long break from cycling and only started riding for transportation in 1996. Living in NYC has been a good reason to cycle, it’s the best way to get around and escape!
We could not agree more- urban cycling is one of the best ways to see a city! In your current life cycle, what’s been your best moment on the bike so far?
There are so many best moments that one doesn’t stick out. I have been lucky to have time to do some road riding this summer with one of my best friends. I raced on the track from 1999 until 2007 even though that’s suddenly a long time ago, it was incredible and shaped the adult me! I love riding through the city pretty much daily and riding my loaded cargo bike to sell at street markets on the weekends. The bike makes me able to do more, go faster, & carry lots of stuff like some kind of super hero.
As an artist who uses bicycles as muses, how would you describe your art?
I paint pictures of bicycles. My work celebrates cycling and my community by recording the bikes around me. In the specific, is the universal.
Amy's Bike Brush Print
What cycling and/or artistic accomplishment are you most proud of?
I am proud that my artwork is my living. Like a bicycle, I am self-propelled!
Are there any notable cyclists that inspire you? Or any other people that are doing inspiring things in the cycling world that you think we should highlight?
Local {bicycle} builders, the CRCA Women’s clinic and the Star Track program at Kissena.
Last, but not least Taliah- Can you finish this statement? In my life-cycle, biking has been . . .
Transformative.
Michael's Schwinn
