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Neal Conner — Eugene’s 'Neon Man' Who Keeps the City Glowing with Hand‑Bent Neon Art

Neal Conner, nicknamed 'Neon Man,' has been hand-bending neon signs since the 1980s and runs Neon Latitudes from a West Eugene studio he founded in 1987. He melts and shapes glass tubes into luminous lettering and art for local businesses like Market District Cornucopia, Smith Family Bookstore and Metro Cinemas. Conner describes creativity as a spiritual practice and says turning sketches into installed signs redefined his idea of 'realization.' Recent commissions, including work for Zest Kitchen & Bar, keep him proud of this rare craft.

10:33 PM, 12/01/2025Culture
Neal Conner — Eugene’s 'Neon Man' Who Keeps the City Glowing with Hand‑Bent Neon Art

The high-pitched shriek of a propane torch cuts through the cool studio air, but Neal Conner remains calm and focused. He lets his fingers skim across hundreds of glass rods before selecting a pale yellow tube from the shelf beneath his bench.

After a quick study of a project sketch, Conner warms the tube, inch by inch, coaxing the fragile glass into graceful curves. Section by section the brittle material yields, becoming flowing letters and shapes that will glow for years as a neon sign.

Known around town as 'Neon Man,' Conner has practiced the art of hand-bent neon since the 1980s. From film studies at the University of Oregon to painting canvases and writing each morning, he says creativity has always pulled him toward different media.

“You’re getting at creativity itself, however it gets expressed, which I find to be deeply spiritual,” Conner said. “One day I realized with a shock that 'realization' can mean making something real — not just remembering it.”

Conner founded his studio and business, Neon Latitudes, in 1987. More than three decades later he still works from a West Eugene studio, hand-bending glass, repairing vintage signs and creating new commissions for local businesses.

Craft, Discipline and Community

Turning a sketch into an installed neon sign takes steady hands, technical skill and patience. Conner counts both 'burnouts and magical breakthroughs' among his decades of experience, and he says the ongoing thrill is that people still commission him for substantial projects.

His work brightens storefronts and neighborhood spots across Eugene, including Market District Cornucopia, Smith Family Bookstore, Metro Cinemas and restaurants like Zest Kitchen & Bar. When he needs a lift, Conner says he often looks back at completed projects and feels instantly cheered.

The hand-bent pieces are literal realizations of ideas — physical, luminous statements that transform concept into reality and reshape how Conner thinks about creativity.

“Everything is wonderful and I’m always surprised that I still get to do this thing,” he said.

Reported by Hannarose McGuinness (hmcguinness@registerguard.com).

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Neal Conner — Eugene’s 'Neon Man' Who Keeps the City Glowing with Hand‑Bent Neon Art - CRBC News