Lee Friedlander: Signs
Since the early 1960s, Friedlander has focused on the signs that inscribe the American landscape, from hand-lettered ads to storefront windows to massive billboards. Depicting these texts with precision and sly humor, Friedlander’s approach to America transcribes a sort of found poetry of commerce and desire.
![Black and white photograph of a rural two story building with the word 'eat' in large white letters on its roof.](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/LF-2358-06-LF.12669.jpg)
Lee Friedlander, Stanzel, Iowa, 1961
gelatin silver print, 16 x 20 inches (sheet) [40.64 x 50.8 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph showing detail of a sign with the text open pizza](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/LF-2198-05-1362x900.jpg)
Lee Friedlander, New Haven, Connecticut, 1980
gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of a man and a monkey sitting in front of a store with advertisements in the background](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/LF-10-16-1364x900.jpg)
Lee Friedlander, New York City, 1963
gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]
![Black and white photograph of a hand painted sign with the text reading "dancing"](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/LF-268-01-1351x900.jpg)
Lee Friedlander, Dallas, 1976
gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of a Coca Cola sign and paintings of Jesus](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/LF-1853-35-881x900.jpg)
Lee Friedlander, New Mexico, 2008
gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of two women standing in a doorway of a building covered in boxing advertisements](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/LF-2065-36-1373x900.jpg)
Lee Friedlander, New York City, 1963
gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of a street sign and a building with the text camera man painted on the side](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/LF-189-16-593x900.jpg)
Lee Friedlander, Western Canada, 1974
gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 inches (sheet) [35.6 x 27.9 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of a basket ball playing chicken attraction](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/LF-2140-11-1367x900.jpg)
Lee Friedlander, Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1969
gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of an old weathered neon sign shaped like a cowboy hat with an arrow pointing right](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/LF-2165-30-1371x900.jpg)
Lee Friedlander, Montana, 1970
gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of a storefront with all caps text everything must go!](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/LF-2252-25-1360x900.jpg)
Lee Friedlander, New York City, 2013
gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of a man walking in in front of a storefront covered in hand painted signs advertising the prices of products](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/LF-3-05-1373x900.jpg)
Lee Friedlander, New York City, 1960
gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of roadside sign missing letters with a police car speeding in the background and a cloudy sky](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/LF-2219-07-1355x900.jpg)
Lee Friedlander, New Mexico, 1990
gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of the side of a building with a hand painted sign of a woman holding a cocktail](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/LF-22-22-596x900.jpg)
Lee Friedlander, California, 1965
gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 inches (sheet) [35.6 x 27.9 cm]
![Black and white photograph of a rural two story building with the word 'eat' in large white letters on its roof.](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/LF-2358-06-LF.12669.jpg?fit=675%2C448&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Lee FriedlanderStanzel, Iowa
1961
gelatin silver print, 16 x 20 inches (sheet) [40.64 x 50.8 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph showing detail of a sign with the text open pizza](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/LF-2198-05.jpg?fit=675%2C446&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Lee FriedlanderNew Haven, Connecticut
1980
gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of a man and a monkey sitting in front of a store with advertisements in the background](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/LF-10-16.jpg?fit=675%2C446&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Lee FriedlanderNew York City
1963
gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]
![Black and white photograph of a hand painted sign with the text reading "dancing"](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/LF-268-01.jpg?fit=675%2C450&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Lee FriedlanderDallas
1976
gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of a Coca Cola sign and paintings of Jesus](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/LF-1853-35.jpg?fit=675%2C690&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Lee FriedlanderNew Mexico
2008
gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of two women standing in a doorway of a building covered in boxing advertisements](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/LF-2065-36.jpg?fit=675%2C442&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Lee FriedlanderNew York City
1963
gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of a street sign and a building with the text camera man painted on the side](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/LF-189-16.jpg?fit=675%2C1025&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Lee FriedlanderWestern Canada
1974
gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 inches (sheet) [35.6 x 27.9 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of a basket ball playing chicken attraction](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/LF-2140-11.jpg?fit=675%2C444&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Lee FriedlanderAtlantic City, New Jersey
1969
gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of an old weathered neon sign shaped like a cowboy hat with an arrow pointing right](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/LF-2165-30.jpg?fit=675%2C443&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Lee FriedlanderMontana
1970
gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of a storefront with all caps text everything must go!](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/LF-2252-25.jpg?fit=675%2C447&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Lee FriedlanderNew York City
2013
gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of a man walking in in front of a storefront covered in hand painted signs advertising the prices of products](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/LF-3-05.jpg?fit=675%2C443&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Lee FriedlanderNew York City
1960
gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of roadside sign missing letters with a police car speeding in the background and a cloudy sky](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/LF-2219-07.jpg?fit=675%2C448&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Lee FriedlanderNew Mexico
1990
gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]
![Black-and-white photograph of the side of a building with a hand painted sign of a woman holding a cocktail](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/LF-22-22.jpg?fit=675%2C1020&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Lee FriedlanderCalifornia
1965
gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 inches (sheet) [35.6 x 27.9 cm]