PANORAMA CITY, CALIF.- An electrifying piece of pop culture history will hit the auction block on August 19 when neon art pioneer Lisa Schulte opens the doors of her Los Angeles area studio for a one-day specialty sale hosted by Abell Auction Co. Live bidding for the online auction, featuring nearly 200 lots, starts at 10 a.m. PDT.

For decades, Schulte has been the go-to source for set decorators and creatives seeking original neon props for iconic films, television shows, music videos and cultural events. Her work has appeared in projects for HBO, Netflix, Hulu, ABC, FOX and Showtime, and she has created custom pieces for music legends such as Mariah Carey, Gwen Stefani, Janelle Monáe, the Backstreet Boys, Prince, Michael Jackson and Lenny Kravitz. Schulte also has collaborated with global brands such as Gucci, Chanel, Calvin Klein, Nike and Bulleit Whiskey, and her neon art has illuminated cultural milestones—from the 1984 Olympic Games to early Burning Man festivals. Her signature works have become defining elements of visual storytelling on screen and stage.

Featured Auction Items

• Neon Butterfly Sculpture – Spectacular 15-foot double-sided butterfly with red, white and blue neon featured in a Mariah Carey music video ($10,000–$15,000).

• Backstreet Boys Signage – Neon signage featured in the promotional campaign for the Backstreet Boys' 2017 Las Vegas residency ($2,500–$3,500).

• Animated Fan Sign – Large animated neon fan featured in *NSYNC music video and notable film and television productions including “Star Trek,” “Pretty Little Liars” and “The Mentalist” ($6,000-$8,000).

• “Hamburger, Drink and Fries” Sign – Multicolor neon sign featured in notable film and television productions including “Star Trek” “Criminal Minds” and “The Kaminski Method” ($5,000-$7,000).

• “The Dogghouse” Sign – Animated blue neon sign used by Snoop Dogg for promotional visuals ($2,000-$3,000).

• “Red Pepper Restaurant” Sign –Multicolor neon sign featured in notable film and television productions including “AI Artificial Intelligence,” “Quantum Leap 2022,” “Gaslit,” “Gangster Squad” and “Mortal Kombat” ($1,500-$2,000).

• “Pair of Palm Tree” Signs – Pink neon signs featured in a Prada commercial and notable film and television productions including “The Young Astronauts,” “Queen Latifah Show,” “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” “Lucifer” and “The Disciples” ($2,000-$3,000).

• “Win, Win, Win” Sign – Multicolor LED bulb sign featured in notable film and television productions including “Two Broke Girls,” “The Thundermans Return,” “Dancing with the Stars,” “Coop & Cami Ask the World” and “Dead to Me” ($500-$700).

• Diversity Totem Sign – Original fine art neon sculpture created as part of Schulte’s studio practice and exemplifying her unique artistic vision ($3,000-$5,000).

Additional Auction Highlights

The auction also will spotlight wide-ranging neon props ($200-$6,000) used to transform Hollywood sets into diners, lounges, bakeries, cafés, nightclubs, restaurants, casinos, motels and more. From vintage signs like “Sports Bar,” “No Vacancy,” “VIP Lounge,” “24 Hours,” and “Pizza Slice and Dice” to standout pieces such as the “Girl in Martini Glass” and “Chinese Dragon,” each work captures a moment in the cinematic and cultural imagination.

“Lisa Schulte is not only a pioneer in neon art—she’s an artist whose work has shaped the visual language of pop culture for decades,” said Abell Vice President Todd Schireson. “This auction offers a unique opportunity for collectors, designers and Hollywood enthusiasts to acquire pieces that have influenced how neon art is seen, understood and appreciated today.”

While Schulte’s name is now synonymous with neon, her artistic journey began with a moment of unexpected transformation. At age seven, she lost her sight due to an eye injury. When her vision returned, she experienced the world, and especially light, with heightened intensity. That early encounter sparked her lifelong fascination with illumination and inspired her to explore neon as a medium. Schulte is also an acclaimed fine artist and founder of the Nights of Neon studio, her creative hub for neon fabrication and rental located near Los Angeles. This sale marks a new chapter for the artist as she makes space for her personal work – creating sculptural pieces that merge neon with organic materials like wood in three-dimensional form.

“I consider myself both a craftsperson and an artisan,” said Schulte. “With every curve of glass and burst of color, I challenge myself to push beyond what neon has done before. I began my career creating functional pieces, but quickly realized that neon could be a powerful emotional and visual language. This auction isn’t just about the objects—it’s a celebration of the creativity, experimentation and stories that live inside each piece.”