Faded Glamour

There’s something about the abandoned storefronts, vintage motels, and forgotten restaurants of the 1950s and 60s that evokes a mid-century nostalgia, even for those of us who weren’t alive in those years. Viewing Hours brings together the photography of Ben Geier, who has spent the last decade traveling the United States to capture the images of these once vibrant, and now abandoned treasures.

Organized in sections, including Signs, Theatres, Restaurants, Motels, Roadside, and Storefronts, and featuring an introduction by the photographer, Viewing Hours features over 150 color images from 15 states, including Arizona, California, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin. Evoking a sense of nostalgia and solitude, Geier’s work highlights the modernist architecture, minimalist design, and muted color palette of the mid-century.

Largely influenced by his Midwest upbringing, Ben Geier’s pursuit of photography first began with a fascination for the abandoned. His unmistakable aesthetic and color palette have breathed new life into faded old spaces, and since then he has focused on broadening his work to capture architecture, roadside attractions, and, his true passion, all things retro and Americana. A multifaceted artist, he has spent over 20 years working for numerous design agencies, a quality which can be seen in his work.