Danny Lyon

American, born 1942

Danny Lyon grew up in Queens. Inspired by Jack Kerouac's On the Road, he left home at 20 and hitchhiked across the South. While still a student at the University of Chicago he became the first staff photographer of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and his photographs were included in the book The Movement. He returned to Chicago in 1964 and joined the Chicago Outlaw Motorcycle Club. His two-year stint with the club resulted in the critically acclaimed book, The Bikeriders.

In 1967 Lyon obtained access to the Texas prison system and produced the series Conversations with the Dead. On completing his prison work Lyon returned to New York, where he met the photographer and filmmaker Robert Frank. Together they formed a company called Sweeney Films. In 1970 Lyon moved to New Mexico, and then to Upstate New York in 1987.

Explore selected works

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The image shows two men sitting closely together on a wooden bench. The man on the left has dreadlocks, a beard, and a moustache, holding a bottle. The man on the right has dreadlocks tied back, a moustache, and a goatee, wearing shorts and a necklace with a pendant. In the background, there is a wooden structure with a sign that reads, "Library Open: $5.00 Deposit to Check Out, Exchange a Book." The setting appears to be outdoors.
Danny Lyon, Lowell and Friend, Placencia, Belize, 1994, gelatin silver print, Corcoran Collection (Gift of the artist), 2015.19.4475

Lowell and Friend, Placencia, Belize

Danny Lyon · 1994 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2015.19.4475
The image shows a man sitting on the edge of a step, with his body visible from the side. He is hunched forward, resting his elbows on his knees and his hands clasped together. His facial features are partially in shadow, with a focused gaze and a slightly rugged complexion. He wears a hat that casts shadow over his face and a well-worn suit that appears loose. Beside him stand two individuals, whose lower bodies are visible from the knees down, wearing slacks and shoes. The background is dimly lit, with worn floor tiles and a darkened wall.
Danny Lyon, Potosí, Bolivia, 1980, gelatin silver print, Corcoran Collection (Gift of Simon Lowinsky, 1994), 2015.19.4470

Potosí, Bolivia

Danny Lyon · 1980 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2015.19.4470
The image shows a woman lying sideways on a bed, propping her head up with her hand and gazing to her right. She is wearing a light, sleeveless slip with lace trim, and her hair is wavy, cascading over her shoulders. A young person with short, curly hair is behind her, also lying on the bed. They are partially obscured by the woman's body and are facing forward. The bed is covered with a white sheet featuring a floral design. The room has a plain decor, with a shadowy wall in the background creating a contrast with the subjects in the gentle light.
Danny Lyon, Gloria, Santa Marta, Colombia, 1972, printed 1980, gelatin silver print, Corcoran Collection (Gift of Simon Lowinsky, 1994), 2015.19.4469

Gloria, Santa Marta, Colombia

Danny Lyon · 1972, printed 1980 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2015.19.4469
The image shows a man captured from the waist up, standing upright with his arms raised to the side. He has short hair and a neutral facial expression. He is wearing a light-colored shirt with a collar, buttoned to the top, and the name "Cole" embroidered on the chest. His sleeves are rolled up and he holds a shoe in one hand and a cloth or rag in the other. Another person's hands are visible embracing him from behind. The background is an overcast sky with a small section of another person visible on the right side of the image.
Danny Lyon, Magnum Photos, Ellis Prison Shakedown, 1968, printed 1970, gelatin silver print, Patrons' Permanent Fund, 2001.67.139

Ellis Prison Shakedown

Danny Lyon, Magnum Photos · 1968, printed 1970 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2001.67.139
Two men are shown inside a cell. One man on the right is partially visible through the bars, with short, dark hair and a profile view. He is shirtless and standing close to the wall with his hand near his face. The other man is seated on the lower bunk bed, with neatly styled dark hair and holding an object. The bunk has white sheets and there is a framed photograph behind it, as well as a barred window with sunlight coming through, a small fan on the windowsill, and curtains on each side of the window.
Danny Lyon, Six Wing Cell Block, Ramsey Prison Texas, 1968, printed 1995, gelatin silver print, Corcoran Collection (Gift of Betsy Karel), 2015.19.5226

Six Wing Cell Block, Ramsey Prison Texas

Danny Lyon · 1968, printed 1995 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2015.19.5226
The image depicts a man walking forward with his hands restrained in handcuffs. An officer stands slightly behind him. The man has a stern expression and short, neatly combed dark hair. He wears a button-up shirt over a t-shirt and dark trousers. The officer is dressed in a uniform with a cap. A large truck is in the background on a grassy area with telephone poles nearby. The road is cracked, and low buildings are faintly visible under a cloudy sky.
Danny Lyon, Entering Prison, 1968, printed 1971, gelatin silver print, Patrons' Permanent Fund, 2001.67.140

Entering Prison

Danny Lyon · 1968, printed 1971 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2001.67.140
This is a photograph of a car interior with reflections on the window. The image shows the interior of a car with a person sitting inside, along with reflections on the window glass showing the image of a young person in a hat smiling. In the background, there are blurred outlines of trees and a structure outside the car. The photograph presents a layered effect with multiple elements blending due to the reflections, capturing both the inside and outside scenes simultaneously. The image has a grayscale tone.
Danny Lyon, Gaucho Field Meet, Chicago, 1966, gelatin silver print, Gift of the Collectors Committee, 2000.27.1

Gaucho Field Meet, Chicago

Danny Lyon · 1966 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2000.27.1
This is a black-and-white photograph of a motorcyclist on a bridge, with large metal beams crossing diagonally through the background. The motorcycle is a cruiser style, characterized by chrome details and whitewall tires. A person is seated on the motorcycle, looking over their shoulder away from us. They wear black clothes and a black jacket that has a skull and crossbones on the back, surrounded by white text. The person has light skin and long dark hair that flies up in the wind due to the lack of a helmet. We see the motorcyclist from the side, as if we are driving on the bridge alongside them. The road and the beams of the bridge are gray, and in the distance another bridge can be seen against a light gray sky.
Danny Lyon, Magnum Photos, Crossing the Ohio River, Louisville, 1966, printed 1990, gelatin silver print, Corcoran Collection (Gift of the artist), 2015.19.4471

Crossing the Ohio River, Louisville

Danny Lyon, Magnum Photos · 1966, printed 1990 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2015.19.4471
The image shows a group of four men on motorcycles. The man in the foreground is visible from the waist up, sitting on a motorcycle with the number "111" displayed at the front. He is positioned slightly leaning forward with his hands resting on the handlebars. He has short, tousled hair and a distinct facial expression looking directly at the camera. He is wearing a plain white t-shirt and appears to be wearing jeans. Behind him are three other men on motorcycles; two of them wear helmets and goggles, one with a scarf covering his lower face, while another wears a bright helmet and a two-tone jacket. The fourth man has a helmet with goggles resting on his forehead, dressed in a dark jacket. Their motorcycles are lined up closely, each displaying a different number. The background is a grassy area, likely an outdoor setting with sunlight lighting the scene.
Danny Lyon, Magnum Photos, Racers, McHenry, Illinois, 1965, gelatin silver print, Patrons' Permanent Fund, 2001.67.138

Racers, McHenry, Illinois

Danny Lyon, Magnum Photos · 1965 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2001.67.138
This is a black-and-white photograph of a person riding a motorcycle on a street at night. We only see the back of the person. They wear a leather jacket with a white skull and text saying "Chicago Outlaws." There are cars to their right, as well as illuminated signs. The street stretches ahead, lined with evenly spaced streetlamps.
Danny Lyon, Magnum Photos, Benny, Grand and Division, Chicago, 1965, gelatin silver print, Patrons' Permanent Fund, 2001.67.137

Benny, Grand and Division, Chicago

Danny Lyon, Magnum Photos · 1965 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2001.67.137