Year after year, two wheel enthusiasts from across the US venture out to Pittsburgh, PA to check out Glory Daze, a meticulously curated custom motorcycle show. This funky event is the psychedelic brainchild of founder, Kurt Diserio and his wife Alexa, and has earned its rank as one of the best annual bike shows to check off your list. With an eclectic mix of builds and creative styles to admire, guests are presented with wall-to-wall inspiration from its impressive historical architecture to the various art exhibits that line the halls. One of which is the Trippy Ten helmet show – a unique collective of ten insanely talented artists of diverse mediums. Since conception, Bell has been a proud partner of the exhibit, providing Bullitts and Eliminators to use as a canvas. The end results? Absolute magic. While we gear up for another Glory Daze going into the new year, we sat down the Kurt and his crew of creatives to learn more about their custom lids from Trippy Ten 2022.
Kurt Diserio
(Owner / Founder)
Tell us a little bit about who are you, where are you from, and what you do.
I’m an artist, motorcycle enthusiast, and advocate for psychedelic awareness. Like others in this industry, I grew up racing motocross and even helped operate a small parts shop with my father and brother in the 2000s. Running the shop forced me to dive deep into the marketing world, where I learned everything from consumer behavior to web design. In 2008, I started a creative company called Wild Native, which now oversees all of my current projects with my wife and business partner, Alexa, including Pittsburgh Moto magazine and the Glory Daze Motorcycle Show. Through Wild Native, we were able to combine our creative skills and make the move from our small hometown on the border of wild and wonderful West Virginia to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where we reside today.
How did Glory Daze first come about?
In 2017, Alexa and I started a local magazine called Pittsburgh Moto as a way to help bring together and showcase custom motorcycle culture in our region. The success of the publication sparked my interest in creating an event here in Pittsburgh that would be influential enough to serve both as a platform for local talent and as a way to bring in seasoned builders from throughout the country. The planning started in 2018, and by springtime of the following year, I received the green light from the venue to start organizing the first annual event on September 21, 2019. Bell Helmets was the first sponsor to come on board and give the show a shot. This opened the door to include a groovy exhibit called the Trippy Ten helmet art show, which was our way to demonstrate appreciation for painters in the motorsports community.
What makes this show so unique in the world of motorcycles?
The purpose of Glory Daze is to inspire creativity and encourage those who make the trip to The Steel City to be as weird and free as possible. Leaning into that authenticity is what keeps the soul of custom motorcycle culture thriving. The event is currently held at the national historic landmark of Carrie Blast Furnaces, a site that’s known for its pre-World War II iron-making technology and towers ninety-two feet over the nearby Monongahela River. Combined with the show’s psychedelic and funk theme, this unique venue creates a free-spirited environment that embodies the grit and character that made this community what it is today. The event features a curated indoor invitational with two-wheeled works of art from builders throughout North America, an outdoor bike-only courtyard, tours of the blast furnaces, and much more.
Tell us a little bit about the lineup from this past year.
Each round, the indoor invitational section of the event is filled with a collection of roughly one-hundred vintage and custom bikes made up of handbuilt choppers, trackers, cafe racers, and restorations. While the complete list of builders would be too long to mention, this past year we had some incredible works that included a mind-melting panhead chopper from Gusher Cycles, the “Loose Goose” CB750 from Clay Krick, a KX500 cafe racer by Krossover Customs, a mashup of a 1978 Yamaha XS650 and Schwinn Stingray by Sean Skinner, a one-of-a-kind 1925 Indian by Jeremy Cupp, and many more that deserve nothing but praise. I can’t thank the invitees enough for their dedication and craftsmanship. The show wouldn’t be what it is without them.
For the Trippy Ten helmet art show, we were excited to see what the new group of painters would come up with. The selected artists were able to choose between the Bell Bullitt and Eliminator helmets, adding to the fun. Displayed alongside the bikes inside of the invitational, the exhibit was a big hit this year. To name a few, Jasmin Jaye knocked it out of the park with a colorful retrowave vibe, Skratch got funky with a split design, and Franny Drummond was feeling the love with a Grateful Dead theme.
How do you go about choosing artists?
The Trippy Ten artists are chosen in a handful of different ways, most notably by having a solid portfolio of motorsports or automotive paintwork. Some of the artists have worked with Bell on projects in the past. Others have experience painting complete bike builds that are often displayed at Glory Daze. Sometimes a painter is new to the game but shows signs of potential.
What can we expect from the show next year?
We’ll be back at the Carrie Blast Furnaces on Saturday, September 23, 2023, with a new collection of far-out motorcycles and custom-painted helmets. We’re just now starting the planning period, but if all goes well, the show will have some new additions in the form of entertainment and weekend add-on events. Stay tuned for updates throughout the winter and springtime!
Jennie Coulson
Tell us a little bit about who are you, where are you from, and how you got involved with Glory Daze.
My name is Jennie Coulson and I’m a self-taught Canadian artist from Hamilton Ontario. I’ve always wanted to attend the Glory Daze chopper show. At the beginning of 2022 it just so happened the coordinator Kurt Diserio had reached out and offered me the opportunity to be one of the 10 Trippy Ten artists to customize a Bell helmet in the gallery portion of the event.
How did you first get into the creative world?
I’ve been a painter for years, a muralist and canvas mostly. Everything I see and am inspired by contributes to the depth and detail of my work. I’m consistently re-inventing myself through my art. Being such a motorcycle enthusiast I decided to switch gears and train myself into custom bike work and haven’t looked back since. I’ve turned my inspirations into my business @giveithellcustoms.
Tell us a little bit about your custom helmet design for this year’s event.
This is a piece I’m very proud of. I wanted to put forth something that reflects myself as an artist. Sticking to my wheelhouse, I created a helmet in an elevated style I prefer.
What’s a design you’ve been dying to do next?
That’s a bit of a loaded question. I can be inspired by the build of a bike to some random graffiti in an alleyway downtown. I like to stick to images that reflect my style and what really speaks to me. I think my next move will be some sort of Japanese style dragon — but my mind is consistently changing from day to day. Either way whatever I decide I always trust myself and my process.
Franny Drummond
Paint Zoo Studios
Tell us a little bit about who are you, where are you from, and how you got involved with Glory Daze.
My name is Franny Drummond, and I went to art school in Miami back in the early ’90s (I’m old). I was asked to be a part of the Glory Daze project by Kurt and it was such an awesome event that how could I say no?! I am always grateful to contribute my art and especially honored to even be asked.
How did you first get into the creative world?
After living in Florida for a few years, airbrushing in Cocoa Beach at Ron Jon’s, all while working with Shawn Slater on surfboards (most surfers don’t have money lol), I decided to move back to my hometown of Langhorne, PA. That’s where I started Paint Zoo Studios in 1999, and have painted everything from motorcycles to goalie masks, to working on the Navy helmets for the Army vs. Navy game which is a true honor!
Tell us a little bit about your custom helmet design for this year’s event.
The Trippy Ten was right in my wheelhouse considering I am a Deadhead and what’s better than hippie vibes mixed which some psychedelic colors and flake!
What’s a design you’ve been dying to do next?
A complete stained glass helmet inspired by the incredible windows seen in the churches across the world.
KC Elkins
Krossover Customs
Tell us a little bit about who are you, where are you from, and how you got involved with Glory Daze.
As far as telling a little about myself, I’d say there’s not much to say. I’ve been doing custom paint work and custom cars/trucks and motorcycles in central Kentucky for about 17 years with a style that leans to ’70s racing with my own twist. I got involved with the Glory Daze Trippy Ten this year after having one of my custom bikes in the show last year and talking to Kurt about the awesome helmet art, so he invited to be a part of this years show.
How did you first get into the creative world?
I got into the creative world probably from being raised in a body shop and always loving art, I was a horrible student because I wouldn’t stop drawing on everything I could get ahold of, then when I got old enough to start painting it just went down hill from there.
Tell us a little bit about your custom helmet design for this year’s event.
For my design this year, I wanted to do something different then my normal style and give tribute to one of my favorite artists Derek Hess. I added a lot of silver leaf with a distressed look and and got the look I was after.
What’s a design you’ve been dying to do next?
I have a few designs I’ve been wanting to do and have a few customers that have some great ideas. I don’t know if I have one in particular in dying to do but when the mood hits me, who knows?
Steve Gibson
Air Oil and Lead
Tell us a little bit about who are you, where are you from, and how you got involved with Glory Daze.
My name is Steve Gibson I am an airbrush artist whose technical abilities are inspired by traditional oil painting. I specialize in automotive murals and portraiture as well as fine art. I have a BA in Fine Art from Flagler College in St. Augustine, FL. I reside right outside Atlantic City, NJ. I got involved with Glory Daze when Kurt reached out to me earlier this year and asked if I’d like to participate. Given the history of the show and the outstanding artists that have participated in the past, I was honored to be asked and without hesitation, I was onboard!
How did you first get into the creative world?
I was born into the creative world — since I can remember I have always been drawing and painting. At a young age the airbrush called me and through the course of my adolescence and early adulthood I found myself dabbling in the medium. Throughout various art-related jobs such as mural companies, sign shops, and the like, I found myself using the airbrush more throughout my 20s into my early 30s. I eventually took a job at a body shop as a change of pace and really honed my craft in that environment, as well as learned the ins and outs of the industry.
Tell us a little bit about your custom helmet design for this year’s event.
In keeping with the ‘70s theme, I picked some subject matter inspired by the movie A Clockwork Orange. I just found the energy of that movie and my helmet design to parallel the times that we are living in today. Some upheaval with a splash of color.
What’s a design you’ve been dying to do next?
Right now I’m painting on a motorcycle tank that was inspired by the Italian painter Caravaggio. The tank is based on some of my recent travels in Italy, and certainly inspired by the aesthetic of both the renaissance and baroque art movements.
Barry Hooper
Depth of Image
Tell us a little bit about who are you, where are you from, and how you got involved with Glory Daze.
My name is Barry Hooper, doing business as Depth Of Image, out of New Hampshire. This was my first year with any involvement with Glory Daze Show. I’m under belief that the paintwork I did for Clay Krick’s “Loose Goose” for the Biltwell People’s Champ Competition is what got Kurt’s attention to invite me to his Trippy Ten segment of the Glory Daze show.
How did you first get into the creative world?
I’ve been artistic my entire life. I spent most of my teenage years and twenties painting graffiti. I’ve always had a love for colors and textures, to a point of obsession.
Tell us a little bit about your custom helmet design for this year’s event.
The Bell Eliminator was a shape and style helmet I’ve never worked with, harsh lines and that lip across the back of the dome piece was a challenge to see my normal style laid out on it. I worked with textures and faded every color sprayed onto the piece to try and give it a subtle but full effect.
What’s a design you’ve been dying to do next?
I don’t seek any certain design, that psychedelic ’70s style I pulled off on the “Loose Goose” was a major milestone for me personally, but I try to stay clear of sticking to one style or design. I get bored quickly, so I’m always in need of changing things up to keep it fresh for myself.
Jasmin Jaye
Skulltits Paint
Tell us a little bit about who are you, where are you from, and how you got involved with Glory Daze.
My name is Jasmin, but I go by Jaye, and by the handle “Skulltits” on IG. I’m a motorcycle enthusiast, builder, fabricator, and painter. I currently live in Seattle, WA.
Kurt reached out to me with an invite to Glory Daze/Trippy Ten, that’s it, pretty simple. I had only switched careers and come on to IG as a “custom painter” in late 2021, so to be recognized and chosen for the opportunity to participate in Trippy Ten was a really big thing for me.
How did you first get into the creative world?
Art has always been there for me, through many different mediums. My dad studied architecture and restored classic cars; my grandfather liked to paint with acrylics and watercolors; I drew and painted as an outlet since I was a kid.
I got into an entry level graphic design position when I was in college for a degree in art. From there I continued on through the graphic design industry, eventually moving onto large format print production and graphics-related media. Throughout the past 15 years, I’ve been painting motorcycle tanks and parts here and there, but only for my own builds or for friends.
Tell us a little bit about your custom helmet design for this year’s event.
Well, the concept was “Trippy,” so my first thought was of the psychedelic black-light posters of the ’60s and ’70s and I had also been looking at a lot of “synthwave” art as inspiration to experiment with using neon paints. The timing worked out and I had the perfect opportunity to explore trying to recreate a neon/synthwave design on the helmet.
I chose a few elements of the synthwave style; the neon rising/setting sun, dunes and pyramids, and combined them onto a weird sci-fi landscape that maybe suggested a little story of another world. The paint was primarily a combination of House Of Kolor neons and kandys, which were applied entirely with an airbrush.
What’s a design you’ve been dying to do next?
I’m sort of all over the place when it comes to art. I’ve jumped around so much within the art world because I get restless. I guess I’ve never settled on one particular style or stuck to any one medium; I’m always trying to accomplish something new to me. I want to keep pushing the combination of all of my current interests into one medium, combining metal fabrication, design, paint and engraving which all happen to work well together on a functional canvas… a motorcycle tank.
Skratch
Skratch’s Garage
Tell us a little bit about who are you, where are you from, and how you got involved with Glory Daze.
I’ve been painting and pinstriping for about 30 years. I’m originally from Texas, worked in SoCal for 20 years. Been working with Bell Helmets for 10 years. That’s what introduced me to the great show known as Glory Daze.
How did you first get into the creative world?
I’ve been drawing and painting since I was a kid. I knew when I was 11, I was going to be a kustom painter.
Tell us a little bit about your custom helmet design for this year’s event.
The helmet design is based on water and fire and everything in between. It’s supposed be the ride of a trip — that’s why it’s called the Trippy Ten.
What’s a design you’ve been dying to do next?
My next big paint job will be a full kustom metal flake paint job on a Model A Hot Rod. I paint every week. So, it’s always a crazy episode of painting coming from me.
Taylor Schultz
Schultz Designz
Tell us a little bit about who are you, where are you from, and how you got involved with Glory Daze.
I am a custom painter from Santa Rosa, California. I’ve worked a lot with Bell in the past and saw that they were involved with Glory Daze. After reaching out to Bell I submitted a helmet to the show in order to show my support for the brand and participate in the event.
How did you first get into the creative world?
I always excelled in art as a child. I have been involved in the motorcycle industry since as long as I can remember. I started working at a body shop at 13 years old and eventually got into art school on a scholarship. After a year and a half, I dropped out of art school and returned to the body shop I started at and the rest is history.
Tell us a little bit about your custom helmet design for this year’s event.
I painted a Bell Eliminator. I did a teal to blue candy over the spider web base I started with. I then free-handed a mandala-inspired pinstripe design using a multicolor palette.
What’s a design you’ve been dying to do next?
My style is a combination of ’70s lowrider and modern panel paint jobs. I genuinely look forward to exceeding any client’s expectation and bringing their ideas to life while mixing in my own creativity. That being said it’s difficult to choose just one design I’m looking forward to creating. However, I am looking forward to painting more cars for Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.
Peter Stovicek
Quikcolor Cycle Finish
Tell us a little bit about who are you, where are you from, and how you got involved with Glory Daze.
My name is Peter Stovicek, I am 28 years old and from Cleveland Ohio. I own and operate a full-time custom paint and body shop specifically geared towards motorcycles called “QuikColor Cycle Finish.” I grew up riding BMX so motorcycles became an extension of that in my adult life. I originally had found out about Glory Daze via friends of ours having a bike in the show and I will never forget that day – Erin (my girlfriend) and I had left Cleveland at 9:30 am on my old Sportster, walked through the show as fast as we could, and got her back to Cleveland by 3 pm for a coffee shop shift at the time. I had built a bike that I was really proud of and Kurt and Alexa opened up and welcomed me for the first time in 2021.
How did you first get into the creative world?
I believe I was born into it. My grandfather is a sculptor, an architect, and world-traveling artist who taught my father — who is also a full-time artist. The majority of the crafts and trades he’s since shared with my brother and I. I spent many hours as a child watching my dad paint with Willie “Niki” Hall and I would go home to draw flames on Microsoft Paint or coloring with crayons what I didn’t realize were fades in PPG coloring books.
Tell us a little bit about your custom helmet design for this year’s event.
I really wanted to pay homage to early racing styles and the people who’ve taught me how to paint. I plastic molded the vents and smoothed it into the visor to give it that super early gasser/ hot rod look rather than something modern. The bubbles and the fades both to me are a staple in custom painters I look up to mixed with my own modern twist.
What’s a design you’ve been dying to do next?
Helmets are always a challenge for me but I also always look forward to them – I’d really like to experiment with some new techniques I’ve learned. Heavy pearls and unique textures grab my attention most and I’ve been really drawn to more simple designs these days with the less-is-more approach.
