MOTORCYCLES AS ART
The Haas Moto Museum & Sculpture Gallery in the Dallas Design District bills itself as “A museum like no other.” The vision of the museum’s founder, Bobby Haas, was not to create the biggest display of motorcycles and related art, but the best. Following a recent visit, I’m convinced his museum is not only like no other, in many ways it’s superior to any other.
To understand what makes the museum special, we need to know something about its founder, who led a remarkable life distinguished by bold achievements in several seemingly unrelated arenas.
The Road to Motorcycles
A Harvard-trained lawyer, Bobby’s early career was spent on Wall Street in the 1980s where his activities in the areas of private equity and leveraged buyouts earned him enough money that he had the freedom to pursue whatever other life goals he found enticing. Bobby’s financial security gave him what he liked to refer to as his “bulletproof vest.”
He bought his first camera when he was 47 and began making wildlife photos. Bobby enjoyed the challenge, and his pictures were unique and captivating. The striking images he captured while leaning out of helicopters — despite his fear of heights — were published by magazine and he produced several glossy coffee table books of his photos. Having established himself as a world-class photographer for over a decade, he began to look for additional
