Phil Vandervaart

Phil Vandervaart is a hand-painted sign artist who has shaped the Twin Cities visual landscape for over four decades. Born in Holland and raised in Indiana, he moved to Minneapolis in 1983 after discovering sign painting through a Carter-era job training program. His iconic lettering graces more than 500 storefronts, including Palmer's Bar, Kramarczuk's, and Moon Palace Books. His work has also appeared in 25 Hollywood films, including the Mighty Ducks trilogy and the Coen Brothers' A Serious Man. Working entirely by hand from his South Minneapolis shop, Vandervaart views his signs as half a living and half public art.