Among colorful neon signs featuring Road Runner, inspirational messages declaring that everything will be amazing, and cannabis leaves, artist Geovany Alvarado proudly displays a sign that reads "The Lost and Found Art." This piece represents more than just another commission – it symbolizes his mission to preserve a dying craft that has been overshadowed by cheaper LED alternatives.
Alvarado, who has been practicing the traditional art of neon sign bending for 37 years, created this particular sign after a conversation with an elderly customer who struggled to find anyone still fabricating authentic neon. "He wanted to meet with someone who actually fabricates the neon and he couldn't find anyone who physically does it," Alvarado explained. "He told me 'You're still doing the lost art.' It came to my head that neon has been dying, there's less and less people who have been learning. So I made this piece."
The neon industry has faced significant challenges in recent years, particularly with the rise of LED signs that mimic the appearance of traditional neon at a fraction of the cost. "When neon crashed and LED and the big letters like McDonald's, all these big signs – they took neon before. Now it's LED," Alvarado said. Major corporations and businesses have increasingly turned to LED alternatives, which are more energy-efficient and require less maintenance than traditional glass neon signs.
However, Alvarado has noticed a recent resurgence in interest from artists and individuals who appreciate the authentic aesthetic that LED cannot replicate. "In the last few years, though, he said there has been a resurgent interest in neon from artists and people who are rejecting the cheap feel of LED. It came back more like, artistic, for art. So I've been doing 100 percent neon since then," he noted.
At his shop, Quality Neon Signs in Mid-City Los Angeles, Alvarado's workspace tells the story of neon's diverse applications and enduring appeal. The facility houses signs in various stages of completion: old beer advertisements awaiting transformer repairs, sports jersey-shaped displays, motivational phrases like "Everything is going to be amazing" and "NEED MONEY FOR FAKE ART," restaurant signage, color demonstration tubes, and cannabis dispensary signs. Among his most meaningful projects are a silhouette of his wife holding their infant daughter and a sign depicting the Los Angeles skyline with wildfire flames in the background, created "just to represent Los Angeles."
The workshop exemplifies Alvarado's commitment to sustainability and craftsmanship. "We save everything," he explained, gesturing to small glass tube fragments that have broken off from other pieces. "In case we want to fix it or need it for a repair." His separate workshop area features diverse projects including a "Home Sweet Home" sign, a piece created years ago for a Twitter and Chanel collaboration featuring the old Twitter bird logo, and signage for the now-defunct Channing Tatum buddy cop show "Comrade Detective."
While Alvarado primarily focuses on traditional glass neon, he does offer LED alternatives to clients who request them, though he doesn't manufacture these in-house. He provides LED options to remain competitive and because they can be more practical for temporary events due to their durability during transportation. However, both he and most neon sign makers believe LED simply cannot match the quality and warmth of authentic neon.
The environmental impact debate between LED and traditional neon proves more complex than initially apparent. Two neon sign creators explained that while LED signs are more energy-efficient, many are manufactured for single-use events and quickly become electronic waste. In contrast, authentic neon signs are typically purchased as artwork or by businesses seeking genuine aesthetic appeal. Because handmade neon signs are more expensive and carefully crafted, they tend to be used for years and can be repaired indefinitely.
The process of creating neon signs is both physically demanding and scientifically precise. Alvarado demonstrated this craft while creating a custom sign, using gas-powered burners that roar like jet engines to heat glass tubes to approximately 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing them to be bent into desired shapes. His technique has evolved over the decades – where he once used overhead projectors and transparencies to project schematics onto walls, he now uses computer-aided design programs and large-format printers that draw schematics with marker pens.
The physical demands of neon work are considerable. "You burn yourself a lot, your hands get burnt. You're dealing with fire all the time," Alvarado said, burning himself several times during the demonstration. "For me it's normal. Even if you're a pro, you still burn yourself." Glass tubes occasionally shatter even for experienced craftsmen, requiring artists to start over with new materials.
After bending the glass and attaching electrodes, tubes are connected to high-powered vacuums that remove all air. The final light color depends on several factors: powdered coatings within tubes, different colored tube coatings, gas type, and electrical current intensity. Alvarado uses neon gas for bright oranges and reds, while argon produces cooler color tones.
Alvarado represents one of only a handful of commercial neon businesses still operating in Los Angeles, serving both commercial customers and artists. Other notable practitioners include Signmakers, which has created several iconic large neon installations recognizable to Los Angeles residents. Artist Lili Lakich maintains a well-established studio in the Los Angeles Arts District and has taught "The Neon Workshop" to new students since 1982. The Museum of Neon Art in nearby Glendale further supports the preservation of this craft.
Fine artist Tory DiPietro represents another approach to neon art, creating pieces where neon is incorporated into broader artworks, such as a neon "FRAGILE" sign superimposed on a globe. Both DiPietro and Alvarado confirm that while a small community of practitioners continues working in neon, the craft remains challenging to learn and master.
The commercial viability of neon work continues to evolve with changing demands. On the day of sign pickup, Alvarado had completed two bright green "Meme House" signs for a cryptocurrency investor house in Los Angeles, working until 11 p.m. to meet the deadline. This diversity of clients – from traditional businesses to modern cryptocurrency ventures – demonstrates neon's adaptability and enduring appeal across different markets and generations.
