Milwaukee: Summerfest Logo Artist's Estate Sale!

*** PARK ON E NEWBERRY BLVD IF HACKETT AVE IS CLOSED FOR ROADWORK. ***

Welcome to an extraordinary sale on Milwaukee's East Side!  Own a piece a piece of Milwaukee pop culture history as we present a sale from the estate of Noel Spangler, the creator of the iconic Summerfest Logo! 

A Brief Biography of

Noel Spangler:

Noel Spangler was a Milwaukee-based graphic artist best known for designing the iconic Summerfest smile logo, a symbol that has represented the world’s largest music festival since 1970.

Born in Centralia, Illinois in 1923, Spangler originally pursued magic, performing in the Army during World War II as “Spang-La The Great”. After the war, he studied art at the University of Illinois, which led him to a career in illustration and design. He moved to Milwaukee in 1957 and became head of the commercial art department at the Layton School of Art, later teaching at UW–Madison.

In 1969, Spangler co-founded the Center for the Development of Visual Communications. The following year, he created the red smiley face logo for Summerfest—an image inspired by his wife Jan’s habit of drawing smiley faces on her students’ homework. Though he gave the logo to the festival for free, it became one of Milwaukee’s most enduring visual emblems.

Spangler continued creating whimsical and imaginative art throughout his life, displaying and selling work in various galleries across the country. He passed away in 2020 at the age of 97 due to complications from COVID.

His legacy lives on in the joyful simplicity of a smile that has welcomed millions to Milwaukee’s lakefront.

This sale features hundreds of pieces of Spangler's art, representing a lifetime of work.  There is a price point for everyone, from original works to prints. You will also find a house full of items collected by the artist and his family.  We have featured a selection of artwork in our photos, but there are many more to be discovered.  Spangler also collected a myriad of wonderful items, including art by other well-known artists, pottery, decor, vintage kitchen ware and books.  Just a few of the highlights are listed below:

- Over 400 works of art by Noel Spangler, including original paintings, illustrations, sculptures and prints.

- Rare 1970s promotional posters for the Milwaukee Performing Arts Center and Symphony by Spangler

- A signed artist's proof of the print "Zebra" by Alexander Calder 1976

- A signed print (37/150) of Sandia #2 (Watermelon) by Rufino Tamayo

- An original painting on board by Folk Artist Mose Tolliver

- A fun carved Willow Bird mirror by folk artist's Craig & Madi Carey

- Antique Islamic architectural tiles

- Antique art tiles from Amsterdam, France & America

- Rare and collectible books, featuring vintage comics, art, theatre and magic books.

- Vintage children's toys and books

- Antique rare tribal carvings from Africa

- Collectible kitchen ware from Villeroy & Boch, Wedgewood, Le Creuset & Port Merion

- Art pottery and ceramics 

- Vintage and antique Quimper serving ware from France

- Vintage Persian rugs from Iran

- Vintage hand-made dollhouses and doll furniture

- A rare Bauhaus architectural book

- Metal wall sculptures by Alice McLean

- Vintage Christmas decor

...And Much More!