I’m Dan Ericson, also known as The Signtologist, a Denver-based mixed-media artist who creates fine art on reclaimed municipal street signs. I use discarded aluminum signs as my canvas, transforming objects meant to regulate public space into expressive works that reflect culture, identity, and history. My practice began in the early 2000s while studying graphic and industrial design, when an unexpected experiment with a thrown-away parking sign revealed a new direction for my work. What started as a mistake quickly became a mission. Street signs carry authority, instruction, and permanence, and by repurposing them, I aim to shift their original meaning—turning control into creativity and function into expression. I was given the name “The Signtologist” by Black Thought of The Roots after gifting him a custom sign portrait, and I’ve carried that name ever since. My work is heavily influenced by hip-hop, jazz, and urban culture, and often features musicians, artists, athletes, and cultural icons who have shaped the soundtrack and spirit of my life. My work has been exhibited nationwide, featured in publications such as XXL Magazine, The Source, Huffington Post, and BuzzFeed, and included in permanent collections like the Universal Hip Hop Museum in New York and the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City. Through exhibitions, commissions, and community collaborations, I continue to explore how overlooked materials can be transformed into meaningful, lasting art.