Taliah Lempert
This past March, I was walking the floor at the Philly Bike Expo, surrounded by the gleaming chrome of custom frames and the latest cycling tech. But amid all the high-end gear, one booth stopped me dead in my tracks.
It was filled with art that captured the absolute soul of a bicycle.
The artist was Taliah, the creative force behind Bicycle Paintings. I walked away from her booth with a magnet, her business card, and a profound sense of inspiration. As a former bike mechanic who now creates drawing tutorials, I instantly connected with how she looks at a bike.
For the summer months, Beyond the Sketch is shifting gears to feature the people, artists, and businesses that shape the cycling industry. By sharing these stories—from both consumers and creators—we can better understand how deeply bicycles impact our lives, and why fighting for equal opportunities in transportation and better cycling infrastructure matters so much.
Taliah's work reminds us that a bicycle isn't just a machine; it's a vehicle for self-determination.
When the Light Flips On: Taliah's Journey
Every artist has a moment where their world changes. For Taliah, that first spark happened in a high school elective drawing class. Walking into that room felt like flipping on a light switch—she knew right then and there that she wanted to spend her life painting.
"Takhion" — This dynamic perspective beautifully illustrates Taliah's focus on immediacy, catching the technical poetry of a fast frame in a single glance.
After art school, she spent about eight years painting murals and doing decorative work. Then, in 1996, she bought a bicycle.
Suddenly, the world opened up. Riding through the city and realizing she could get exactly where she needed to go using nothing but her own power felt like absolute magic. As she fell in love with the ride, she fell in love with the form. She saw the inherent beauty of the bicycle and started drawing them.
She hasn’t stopped since.
The Process: Catching a Glance
What I love most about Taliah’s philosophy is how grounded it is. She doesn’t paint idealized, imaginary bicycles. Every single image comes from a real bike—ones that people actually ride, wear down, repair, and love.
Her process always starts in her studio with direct observation.
"I spend time looking at a bike in my studio and drawing from it, trying to catch something immediate rather than overly finished. I want to believe it—to feel the solidness of form, even if the image is abstracted." — Taliah
Taliah moves seamlessly between painting and printmaking, experimenting with tools that keep her on her toes—brush pens, tempera sticks, oiled charcoal, and Japanese gouache. She loves tools that are a little unpredictable, like a floppy brush or a loose line, where the marks can surprise her. She even creates kitchen lithographs using aluminum foil plates on her press!
Her favorite part of the process? That exact moment when the lines start coming together, breathing life and poetry onto the page.
"Bianchi with Roses" — Capturing the delicate design language of a classic frame paired with a vibrant basket of fresh blooms.
The Practical Poetry of the Bicycle
Why stay focused on bicycles for decades? Because a bike reflects the person who rides it. Vintage bikes capture the design language of an era with just a few tubes, while everyday commuter bikes carry a quiet personality shaped by their unique wear and tear.
But beyond the aesthetics, there is a deeper symbolism that ties directly into our need for better cycling infrastructure and transport equity:
"Drysdale" — A masterclass in letting a loose, expressive brush pen outline surprise the eye while maintaining a solid sense of form.
"I love the symbolism. The fact that a bicycle is self-propelled is practical and poetic. It is self-determination and freedom." — Taliah
When we look at Taliah's art, we aren't just looking at spokes and gears. We are looking at a celebration of human independence.
What’s Next in the Studio
Right now, Taliah is working on a gorgeous series of pencil and gouache “open paintings.” She purposely leaves parts unfinished while rendering other sections in detail, perfectly capturing the feeling of catching a beautiful bicycle with just a passing glance.
There’s always a new story rolling into her studio. As she puts it, "I just wish I painted faster!"
"Joe's Vignolles" — The stunning geometry of a classic vintage road bike brought forward by rich gouache tones and striking white highlights.
Support the Artist & Explore the Art
If you want to bring a piece of this practical poetry into your own space (or grab a magnet like I did!), go check out Taliah's incredible archive of work:
Explore the Gallery: Visit her website to see her full collection of paintings and prints
Follow the Journey: See behind-the-scenes studio updates and her latest sketches on Instagram
Thank you for reading this month's feature and a huge shoutout to Taliah Lempert for allowing us to feature her. We loved telling your story and sharing how your art brings the history and unique character of bicycles to life!
Next time you look at a bicycle, remember it’s not just a frame and two wheels—it’s a beautiful vehicle for self-determination, history, and creative freedom.
*This is not a paid post/review. All photos are owned by Taliah Lempert of Bicycle Paintings. I do not own the rights to any photos and received permission from the artist to feature them.
