There are a hundred signs hung on walls and ceilings and laid on tables in Brad Johnson’s studio.

Brad Johnson is a self-proclaimed lone wolf, award winner, Oregon State University graduate, active outdoorsman and currently the only traditional sign artist left in Corvallis.

According to him, sign art is in a turbulent place, where new generations are changing the culture for the better. Modern technology is also making the trade less unique, according to Johnson. 

“We’re a small niche in any given community, there’s not many sign painters in the world,” Johnson said. “There’s only ever been four at a time in Corvallis … and I’m the last of that crew.”

If you have looked closely at various signs throughout Corvallis, you have likely seen Johnson’s work in City Park, various store fronts throughout the city or the Cheesy Stuffed Burgers storefront that once was.

“Brad is in the upper echelon of people that we’ve ever worked with,” said Mark Encke, owner of Cheesy Stuffed Burgers. “It seemed like for the entire process he was more worried about making sure whatever was created was what we wanted, rather than trying to take our money and get the project done.”

Johnson even has pieces on campus.

The wooden signs found within Strand Hall, including the largest one outside the dean’s office, were all created by Johnson. His first sign ever was a campus project for a fraternity’s basement bar.

Staci Simonich, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences, said that “These signs are truly works of art and give a sense of grandeur and history.”

Johnson himself is an OSU graduate, having studied landscape architecture in the class of 1981, a focus that is no longer offered at OSU. The program found its home in Strand Hall, where he would eventually hang some of his finest work.

Johnson was eager to describe the story behind each sign and the techniques that he used to create them, including painting, sandblasting, screen printing and more.

“My brain is super creative,” Johnson said. “I’m always coming up with new, original concepts and effects. I’ve done a lot of things that are pretty original in the industry.”

Through his years of sign-making, Johnson has found himself involved with an independent sign-making group known as the Letterheads.

Occasionally, sign-making groups will work together on recreational and communal projects, according to Johnson.

In 2021, the Letterheads designed a mural depicting Blanche McGaughey, an early 20th century cowgirl who competed in Oregon. The mural was designed by Johnson himself.

“I still love what I do,” Johnson said. “I’m getting closer to retirement but being an artist and whatnot. I’ll never fully retire. I may sell my big ladders and cancel my contractor’s license, but I’ll keep doing this work until the day I die.”