A Decade-Long Journey on Two Wheels
For the past ten years, photographer Lucia Braham has dedicated herself to chronicling the lives of women within motorcycle culture across Australia and the United States. Her profound project, titled Petrolette, offers an intimate look into a community built on friendship, empowerment, and a shared passion for riding. The culmination of this work is now on display in a new exhibition, running in conjunction with the 2025 Head On photo festival’s Open Program.
The exhibition is hosted at The Enmore Hotel in Enmore and will remain open to the public until 30 November 2025. It presents a powerful visual narrative that challenges stereotypes and celebrates the diversity of women on two wheels.
Capturing Community and Camaraderie
Braham's journey into this world began with a transformative experience. In 2016, she attended the Dream Roll, a female-only motorcycle camp out in Washington State, USA. "I took a risk and attended the first one the year before, not knowing a single person. I left that year with lifelong friendships," Braham recalls. This sense of belonging inspired her to seek out a similar community back in Australia, sparking the project that would consume the next decade.
One of the central hubs she documented is Sheila’s Shakedown, an annual motorcycle festival that started in 2017 in Yarra Junction, Victoria. The event has become a vital space for femmes and gender non-conforming people, fostering an environment of support and encouragement. A poignant image from the 2020 festival shows Jaz with her sons, Dusty and Jim, embodying the project's ethos of "community over competition."
The series also highlights groups like The Throttle Moles from Mildura, Victoria, who embraced a more rugged, authentic identity in contrast to the often-glamourised social media portrayal of female riders. Another powerful collective, The Womb Tang Clan, was formed to raise money for EndoActive, a charity focused on endometriosis awareness.
Beyond the Asphalt: Personal Stories and Shared Adventures
Braham's photographs go beyond simple portraits, capturing the raw, unfiltered moments of motorcycle life. One image shows the aftermath of "getting ‘roosted’ by Rebecca" – a dirt racing technique where debris from a leading bike's tyre hits the rider behind. Another depicts rider Riley Tyler with a bruised leg, the "result of kicking a vintage Triumph with exceptionally high compression," a testament to the physical realities and shared near-death stories that bond riders.
The project also serves as a personal archive of cherished adventures, from riding the scenic Kings Highway in New South Wales to casual sunset views of Mount Kosciuszko. "The fact that I have been harbouring a decade-long chronicle of women in motorcycle culture won’t come as a surprise to many," Braham states. "My involvement in this sacred community is something I truly cherish."
What began as a personal endeavour to give her friends "a photographic souvenir" has evolved into a significant cultural document. Lucia Braham's Petrolette is more than an exhibition; it is a celebration of resilience, friendship, and the unbreakable spirit of women who ride.
