Motel and Roadside Sign Paintings

Motel signs, neon, painted walls and roadside landmarks across the West: the Coachella Valley and Mojave Desert in California, Route 66 in Arizona, downtown Phoenix, and Montana towns such as Butte, Missoula and Great Falls. A few come from St. Louis and the Bay Area.

The collection includes acrylic paintings, hand-colored prints and mixed media. Each artwork page shows whether the work is available.

Medium
AllPaintingsPrintsMixed media
Subject
Grain Elevators & Mills
Motels & Roadside Signs
Diners, Cafés & Theaters
Barns & Farmsteads
Trains & Railroads
Churches & Schoolhouses
Place
Route 66
Palm Springs & the California Desert
Montana
Idaho
California
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size
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Plaza Theatre
Painting of the tall vertical sign of the Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs, THE PLAZA above THEATRE, glowing against a black night sky.Painting of the tall vertical sign of the Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs, THE PLAZA above THEATRE, glowing against a black night sky.
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Nighttime at the Car Wash
Painting of the pink elephant Rancho Super Car Wash sign in Rancho Mirage, California, glowing in neon colors against a dark blue night sky.Painting of the pink elephant Rancho Super Car Wash sign in Rancho Mirage, California, glowing in neon colors against a dark blue night sky.
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Wonder Valley: Texaco Water Tower
Mixed-media painting of a rust-orange water tank with a white Texaco panel on red legs in the Wonder Valley desert, blue-gray mountains beyond.Mixed-media painting of a rust-orange water tank with a white Texaco panel on red legs in the Wonder Valley desert, blue-gray mountains beyond.
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Twi-lite Cinema Center: Feature Presentation
Mixed-media painting of the Twi-Lite Cinema Center drive-in sign in Great Falls, Montana, a large white star over a red panel.Mixed-media painting of the Twi-Lite Cinema Center drive-in sign in Great Falls, Montana, a large white star over a red panel.
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Motel Series: Vacancy at the Sands
Painting of the angled orange Sands Motel sign in Grants, New Mexico, topped by three red pennant flags against a pale blue sky.Painting of the angled orange Sands Motel sign in Grants, New Mexico, topped by three red pennant flags against a pale blue sky.
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Motel Series: The Promise of Color
Mixed-media painting of a red MOTEL sign with a small COLOR TV by RCA panel on a white frame, telephone poles beyond under pink clouds.Mixed-media painting of a red MOTEL sign with a small COLOR TV by RCA panel on a white frame, telephone poles beyond under pink clouds.
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Zuma Snack Shack
Painting of a pink beach snack stand at Zuma Beach, Malibu, with large multicolored FOOD letters on the roof and a lifeguard tower behind.Painting of a pink beach snack stand at Zuma Beach, Malibu, with large multicolored FOOD letters on the roof and a lifeguard tower behind.
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Dairy Dale
Painting of a weathered DAIRY DALE sign topped by a soft-serve cone, with SHAKES and SUNDAES on orange drips, against a blue sky.Painting of a weathered DAIRY DALE sign topped by a soft-serve cone, with SHAKES and SUNDAES on orange drips, against a blue sky.
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Donahoo's Golden Chicken
Painting of the red and green Donahoo's GOLDEN CHICKEN sign in Pomona, California, with a rooster figure on a pink roof below.Painting of the red and green Donahoo's GOLDEN CHICKEN sign in Pomona, California, with a rooster figure on a pink roof below.
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Laundry on Main Street
Painting of a pale pink Main Street storefront in Hot Springs, Montana, with a Main Street Laundry sign, a For Rent sign and an open teal door.Painting of a pale pink Main Street storefront in Hot Springs, Montana, with a Main Street Laundry sign, a For Rent sign and an open teal door.
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Truth Be Told
Painting of a white false-front building in Oregon with a Truth Be Told sign, beside an empty road and utility poles at dusk.Painting of a white false-front building in Oregon with a Truth Be Told sign, beside an empty road and utility poles at dusk.
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Harmony Motel
Painting of the white Harmony Motel sign in Joshua Tree, California, red HARMONY MOTEL letters seen from below against a deep blue sky.Painting of the white Harmony Motel sign in Joshua Tree, California, red HARMONY MOTEL letters seen from below against a deep blue sky.
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Route 66: Snow Cap
Painting of the Snow Cap drive-in on Route 66 in Seligman, Arizona, a giant red soft-serve cone on the roof beside a red BURGER arrow and MALTS lettering.Painting of the Snow Cap drive-in on Route 66 in Seligman, Arizona, a giant red soft-serve cone on the roof beside a red BURGER arrow and MALTS lettering.
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Fuel Ahead
Painting of a pale abandoned building with square columns and faint FUEL AHEAD lettering in Death Valley Junction, California, in long morning shadows.Painting of a pale abandoned building with square columns and faint FUEL AHEAD lettering in Death Valley Junction, California, in long morning shadows.
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Rock's Cafe
Painting of a weathered ROCKS sign with a red arrow on a tall pole, standing alone on a flat Mojave Desert plain under a pale gray sky.Painting of a weathered ROCKS sign with a red arrow on a tall pole, standing alone on a flat Mojave Desert plain under a pale gray sky.
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Route 66: Soft Serve
Painting of a green EAT sign topped by a red soft-serve swirl beside a red BURGER sign over a yellow scalloped awning, on Route 66 in Seligman, Arizona.Painting of a green EAT sign topped by a red soft-serve swirl beside a red BURGER sign over a yellow scalloped awning, on Route 66 in Seligman, Arizona.
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Hacienda Rivera
Painting of a tall pale blue motel sign with a red HACIENDA panel rising over a wall and palms in Desert Hot Springs, California.Painting of a tall pale blue motel sign with a red HACIENDA panel rising over a wall and palms in Desert Hot Springs, California.
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Cactus Springs
Mixed-media painting of a tall mid-century CACTUS sign on a red pole with four yellow panels, in Desert Hot Springs, California.Mixed-media painting of a tall mid-century CACTUS sign on a red pole with four yellow panels, in Desert Hot Springs, California.
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Last Chance
Mixed-media painting of an old wooden gas station with two white pumps in a purple snowy field, mountains and dawn sky behind.Mixed-media painting of an old wooden gas station with two white pumps in a purple snowy field, mountains and dawn sky behind.
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Pink Elephant
Painting of the pink elephant Rancho Super Car Wash sign in Rancho Mirage, California, with a red fez and raised trunk, against a clear blue sky.Painting of the pink elephant Rancho Super Car Wash sign in Rancho Mirage, California, with a red fez and raised trunk, against a clear blue sky.
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The New Tait Apartments
Painting of the worn red and orange NEW TAIT APTS sign projecting from a pink brick building in Butte, Montana, seen from below against blue sky.Painting of the worn red and orange NEW TAIT APTS sign projecting from a pink brick building in Butte, Montana, seen from below against blue sky.
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Pann's Coffee Shop
Painting of the Pann's neon sign in Los Angeles, with red Parking and Coffee Shop arrows above an angled roof and pink clouds.Painting of the Pann's neon sign in Los Angeles, with red Parking and Coffee Shop arrows above an angled roof and pink clouds.
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Hacienda del Sol
Painting of a yellow sunburst sign reading HACIENDA del SOL on a brown pylon in Borrego Springs, California, with palms and mountains.Painting of a yellow sunburst sign reading HACIENDA del SOL on a brown pylon in Borrego Springs, California, with palms and mountains.
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Relax Inn
Mixed-media painting of the tall Relax Inn motel sign on Van Buren Street in Phoenix, above a pink building and a 35 speed limit sign.Mixed-media painting of the tall Relax Inn motel sign on Van Buren Street in Phoenix, above a pink building and a 35 speed limit sign.
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Cafe/Cafe
Mixed-media painting of two open-frame CAFE signs on brown posts, a pale one seen in reverse above a red one, against a blue sky.Mixed-media painting of two open-frame CAFE signs on brown posts, a pale one seen in reverse above a red one, against a blue sky.
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Route 66 series: signs along the way #3
Print of three Route 66 signs from Amboy, California, side by side: a turquoise RESTAURANT sign, ROY'S with a red star over MOTEL CAFE, and a tall MOTEL sign.Print of three Route 66 signs from Amboy, California, side by side: a turquoise RESTAURANT sign, ROY'S with a red star over MOTEL CAFE, and a tall MOTEL sign.
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Red Hot Trucking
Painting of an orange semi truck crossing a highway overpass above a golden grassy field in Idaho, under streaky white clouds.Painting of an orange semi truck crossing a highway overpass above a golden grassy field in Idaho, under streaky white clouds.
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Zenith Long Distance Radio
Painting of a cream corner building in St. Louis with a quatrefoil window, topped by a sign reading ZENITH, RADIO and HOLLANDER & CO INC.Painting of a cream corner building in St. Louis with a quatrefoil window, topped by a sign reading ZENITH, RADIO and HOLLANDER & CO INC.
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Roy’s Motel and Cafe
Painting of the Roy's Motel and Cafe sign on Route 66 in Amboy, California: a red-orange star behind ROY'S, MOTEL CAFE below, beside the angled-roof office.Painting of the Roy's Motel and Cafe sign on Route 66 in Amboy, California: a red-orange star behind ROY'S, MOTEL CAFE below, beside the angled-roof office.
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Lee’s Grill
Mixed-media painting of Lee's Grill, a mint-green St. Louis diner with red rooftop letters, flanked by dark shrubs under a pale sky.Mixed-media painting of Lee's Grill, a mint-green St. Louis diner with red rooftop letters, flanked by dark shrubs under a pale sky.
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Haven on Earth
Painting of the blue trailer-shaped TRAILER HAVEN sign in San Leandro, California, on a single pole above low pink buildings.Painting of the blue trailer-shaped TRAILER HAVEN sign in San Leandro, California, on a single pole above low pink buildings.
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17 Reasons
Painting of a San Francisco rooftop billboard reading 17 REASONS above a leasing sign, its steel scaffold against a pale blue sky.Painting of a San Francisco rooftop billboard reading 17 REASONS above a leasing sign, its steel scaffold against a pale blue sky.
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Sans Souci
Hand-colored photo etching of a weathered oval SANS SOUCI sign on a pole above a long derelict building at Desert Shores on the Salton Sea.Hand-colored photo etching of a weathered oval SANS SOUCI sign on a pole above a long derelict building at Desert Shores on the Salton Sea.
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Desert Center Family Cafe
Hand-colored photo etching of the run-down Family Cafe in Desert Center, California, a peeling FAMILY CAFE sign above a canopy and old gas pumps.Hand-colored photo etching of the run-down Family Cafe in Desert Center, California, a peeling FAMILY CAFE sign above a canopy and old gas pumps.
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Ronnie's Drive In Theatre
Color photo etching of the screen tower of Ronnie's Drive In Theatre in St. Louis, orange lettering under a yellow and blue dusk sky.Color photo etching of the screen tower of Ronnie's Drive In Theatre in St. Louis, orange lettering under a yellow and blue dusk sky.
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Lee's Grill
Color photo etching of Lee's Grill, a small St. Louis diner with a rooftop sign, rounded shrubs and cracked pavement at dusk.Color photo etching of Lee's Grill, a small St. Louis diner with a rooftop sign, rounded shrubs and cracked pavement at dusk.
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Haven on Earth
Hand-colored solar plate etching of the blue TRAILER HAVEN sign in San Leandro, California, shaped like a camper, over gray rooftops at dusk.Hand-colored solar plate etching of the blue TRAILER HAVEN sign in San Leandro, California, shaped like a camper, over gray rooftops at dusk.
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Donut Time
Color photo etching of a two-story DONUT CORNER building on an empty Oakland street corner, above an orange DONUT TIME sign with a clock.Color photo etching of a two-story DONUT CORNER building on an empty Oakland street corner, above an orange DONUT TIME sign with a clock.
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Sun Villa Motel
Painting of the Sun Villa Motel sign in Phoenix, Arizona: SUN with starbursts above a pink Villa panel, against a deep blue sky.Painting of the Sun Villa Motel sign in Phoenix, Arizona: SUN with starbursts above a pink Villa panel, against a deep blue sky.
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Family Cafe at Desert Center
Painting of the Family Cafe in Desert Center, California: a pink roadside cafe and gas canopy with old red and white pumps in open desert.Painting of the Family Cafe in Desert Center, California: a pink roadside cafe and gas canopy with old red and white pumps in open desert.
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Golden Motel
Painting of a blue GOLDEN MOTEL sign on tall poles in Nevada, beside a white motel building and a distant gas station under gray clouds.Painting of a blue GOLDEN MOTEL sign on tall poles in Nevada, beside a white motel building and a distant gas station under gray clouds.
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Charlo, Number 13
Painting of the white CHARLO town sign in Charlo, Montana, with a small 13 marker, beside railroad tracks and a gray grain elevator.Painting of the white CHARLO town sign in Charlo, Montana, with a small 13 marker, beside railroad tracks and a gray grain elevator.
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Club 13
Painting of a downtown street in Butte, Montana, with brick buildings and a blue storefront under a vertical CLUB sign and a Club 13 panel.Painting of a downtown street in Butte, Montana, with brick buildings and a blue storefront under a vertical CLUB sign and a Club 13 panel.
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Roadside Attraction: Cabazon
Painting of the dinosaur roadside attraction in Cabazon, California, a tall EAT sign with a dinosaur in the A beside a pink dinosaur sculpture at dusk.Painting of the dinosaur roadside attraction in Cabazon, California, a tall EAT sign with a dinosaur in the A beside a pink dinosaur sculpture at dusk.
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Route 66 Series—Roy's Motel and Cafe
Print of the ROY'S sign on Route 66 in Amboy, California, over a red star, with a turquoise MOTEL CAFE board below and palm trees, framed by a topographic map.Print of the ROY'S sign on Route 66 in Amboy, California, over a red star, with a turquoise MOTEL CAFE board below and palm trees, framed by a topographic map.
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Route 66 Series—Bagdad Motel
Hand-colored print of a tall, weathered MOTEL sign on a pole in the desert near Amboy on Route 66, framed by a topographic map border.Hand-colored print of a tall, weathered MOTEL sign on a pole in the desert near Amboy on Route 66, framed by a topographic map border.
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Route 66 Series I
Hand-colored solar plate etching of two Route 66 desert scenes near Amboy, California: an empty sign frame on a white pole and a tall MOTEL sign by utility poles.Hand-colored solar plate etching of two Route 66 desert scenes near Amboy, California: an empty sign frame on a white pole and a tall MOTEL sign by utility poles.
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Fox in the Woods
Hand-colored solar plate etching of an old FOX theater sign lying on its side on a blue truss in Missoula, Montana, below a dark wooded slope.Hand-colored solar plate etching of an old FOX theater sign lying on its side on a blue truss in Missoula, Montana, below a dark wooded slope.
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Room With a View
Hand-colored photo etching of a two-story brick corner building in Ashland, North Carolina, with painted FOOD and Dr Pepper signs under a yellow sky.Hand-colored photo etching of a two-story brick corner building in Ashland, North Carolina, with painted FOOD and Dr Pepper signs under a yellow sky.
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Oasis Bar
Painting of the dark red brick Oasis Bar in Harlowton, Montana, with a tall yellow vertical sign on a street corner beside a streetlight.Painting of the dark red brick Oasis Bar in Harlowton, Montana, with a tall yellow vertical sign on a street corner beside a streetlight.
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Route 66 Motel
Painting of a cream stucco archway reading WELCOME HISTORIC ROUTE 66 over a motel courtyard with blue and red doors in Victorville, California.Painting of a cream stucco archway reading WELCOME HISTORIC ROUTE 66 over a motel courtyard with blue and red doors in Victorville, California.
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Ramos Bros Circus
Mixed-media painting of a faded Ramos Bros Circus billboard with a red and white sunburst and three feathered showgirls in the Wonder Valley desert.Mixed-media painting of a faded Ramos Bros Circus billboard with a red and white sunburst and three feathered showgirls in the Wonder Valley desert.
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Related collections

Route 66
Diners, Cafés & Theaters
Palm Springs & the California Desert
The fine art of dennis Johnson
Website by al.b.goldin