El Rey Theatre by Robert Landau

Los Angeles Architectural Photograph | Signed Limited Edition Print

A Robert Landau photograph of the neon blade sign and curving stucco facade of the El Rey Theatre at 5515 Wilshire Boulevard, designed by Clifford A. Balch and completed in 1936.

Artist: Robert Landau

Title: El Rey Theatre

Collection: Art Deco | Los Angeles

Edition: Signed and numbered in the margin, archival pigment prints on 100% cotton watercolor paper, limited edition:

• 16X20, edition of 25
• 24X30, edition of 5

Curator's Note The bottom half of the frame is painted geometry — yellow concentric arcs sweeping upward from the lower left, repeated on a second curving wall behind, vertical yellow stripes running down the columns between. From this kinetic foundation the white blade sign launches vertically, "EL REY" stacked in red neon and framed by ornamental swirls, a small starburst at the top edge. Landau shoots from below, looking up into the sign, which exaggerates the verticality and pulls the eye through the painted curves to the lettering. The sky is deep cobalt; the sun is sharp and direct, casting hard shadows that emphasize the relief of the painted arcs and the dimensional housing of the sign.