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.
Black-and-white photograph showing detail of a sign with the text open pizza
Black-and-white photograph of a man and a monkey sitting in front of a store with advertisements in the background
Black and white photograph of a hand painted sign with the text reading "dancing"
Black-and-white photograph of a Coca Cola sign and paintings of Jesus
Black-and-white photograph of two women standing in a doorway of a building covered in boxing advertisements
Black-and-white photograph of a street sign and a building with the text camera man painted on the side
Black-and-white photograph of a basket ball playing chicken attraction
Black-and-white photograph of an old weathered neon sign shaped like a cowboy hat with an arrow pointing right
Black-and-white photograph of a storefront with all caps text everything must go!
Black-and-white photograph of a man walking in in front of a storefront covered in hand painted signs advertising the prices of products
Black-and-white photograph of roadside sign missing letters with a police car speeding in the background and a cloudy sky
Black-and-white photograph of the side of a building with a hand painted sign of a woman holding a cocktail
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Black and white photographs of two women in sunglasses taking photographs on a city street

Lee Friedlander: The People’s Pictures
Black-and-white photograph of a man and woman entering and exiting a building with their faces obscured by doors

Lee Friedlander: The Street
Black-and-white photograph of a television with a woman's face onscreen on top of a bureau

Lee Friedlander: The Little Screens
Black-and-white photograph of rock formations and their reflection in a body of water

Lee Friedlander: Landscapes