This November, Ryan visits Lee Milazzo at Poster Conservation, one of the country’s leading studios dedicated to the restoration, preservation, and archival treatment of vintage posters and pop-culture paper ephemera!
About Lee MilazzoLee Milazzo is the founder and owner of Poster Conservation. With 33 years of hands-on experience and more than 200,000 posters restored, Milazzo is widely regarded as a foremost authority in the field sought out by collectors, galleries, and institutions for his technical mastery, historical expertise, and ability to bring even the most fragile paper artifacts back to life.
Milazzo’s deep knowledge spans the full spectrum of vintage poster materials and printing processes from early stone lithographs to wood-pulp one-sheets, billboard-sized six-sheets, Italian 4-Fogli, and rare international formats. His work is characterized by meticulous craft, museum-grade methods, and an unwavering commitment to authenticity. Collectors often credit him with setting the standard for modern poster conservation, particularly in advanced techniques such as linen-backing, de-acidification, adhesive removal, and complex color-matching.
In addition to Poster Conservation, Milazzo is also the co-owner of Samuel Owen Gallery, a contemporary art gallery known for its dynamic exhibitions, artist development, and strong presence in the modern art market. His dual roles as both a conservator and a gallerist give him a uniquely holistic understanding of the art world, blending preservation, presentation, and cultural storytelling.
Driven by a lifelong passion for visual history, craftsmanship, and the stories behind each piece of ephemera, Lee Milazzo continues to shape the future of poster preservation while honoring the legacy of the past.
This online experience is free for Atlas Obscura Members.
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Recommended for ages 13+