Leroy Neiman – Life of An Artist

Leroy Neiman is one of the most famous American artists of all time.  He is considered the first sports artists in the world.  His subject matter choices including capturing iconic sporting events and famous individuals along with his unique vibrantly colorful and semi-abstracted style have come to define his career.

Born in 1921 in St. Paul, Minnesota, Leroy Neiman went on to fight the Second World War, Neiman returned home and began studying art at the Art Institute of Chicago. He taught there for ten years early in his career.  In 1954, Neiman began his career with Playboy as a contributing artist which would give him his first taste of artistic notoriety.  It was not until 1960 when Leroy Neiman began traveling to document sporting events and leisure activities including the World Series, the Kentucky Derby, boxing championship, Formula One races, the Masters Golf tournament, Wimbledon, and many more that he really developed into an iconic painter.  He also began painting famous for painting entertainers and musicians, both living and dead, and his coverage of major events and individuals made his paintings and his artistic style famous.

In addition to painting sporting and leisure events, Neiman also paints scenic views and architecture, most famously including the Brooklyn Bridge in New York where he now calls home, and the Arc de Triomphe in Paris where he spent time living previously.  Leroy Neiman paintings also depict animals and lifestyle scenes which most famously include casino and jazz scenes. 

Often considered to have an outrageous and flamboyant personality, Neiman’s personality has been polarizing throughout his career.  There is no doubt that his ability to promote himself and stand out has only added to his popularity and made him into an iconic artist.  His image and personality only have helped to foster his art career and made his work and image even more iconic than they might be otherwise.

Leroy Neiman originals have become so collectible for multiple reasons. First, his art captures a subject matter that most people find interesting and can relate to.  The sports world is endlessly popular around the world, and his role as the first artist to capture that has made his work a must have for many high end collectors and art museums. Since he paints live at many sporting events, millions of people around the world have been able to see the camera capture him working live.  An insight into that fascinating process which collectors are often excluded from has only added to his perceived accessibility and drastically increased the popularity of Neiman paintings.   Additionally, his semi-abstracted and colorful style stands out and instantly brands all of his work.  Leroy Neiman paintings have a style uniquely their own and his artistic signature has made him one of the most identifiable artists of the twentieth century.

Leroy Neiman is still living today and resides in New York City.  He is still producing original art, and he creates between three and six paintings per year.  Many say he is the most popular living artist in the United Sates.  Leroy Neiman paintings reside museums all over the world and is currently in the process of assembling his archives for the Smithsonian is Washington D.C.