LeRoy Neiman (American, b. 1921)

LeRoy Neiman is unquestionably one of the most important American artists living today. Best known for his brilliantly colored, stunningly energetic images of sporting events and leisure activities, LeRoy Neiman is probably the most popular living artist in the United States. He is the chronicler of the good life.  In addition to being a masterful sports artist LeRoy Neiman has an exquisite collection of animal portraits and Safari scenes, Celebrity portraits, and whimsical depictions of famous locations. Neiman also gained wide recognition as contributing artist for Playboy, in the 1950’s for his shapely cartoon figures Femmy and Femlin.

Neiman was born in St. Paul, Minnesota to Charles Rundquist, an unskilled laborer, and Lydia (Serline) Runquist. His surname is that of one of his stepfathers; during his childhood his biological father abandoned the family, and his mother. He attended a Roman Catholic primary school, where, he says he “was always drawing pictures and getting special treatment... showing off, copping out of other things.” Starting in adolescence he earned money from local grocers by painting calcimine images of fruit, vegetables and meat as sale items, and portraits of the shopkeepers themselves on the windows of their stores. As a high school student, he created posters for school dances and athletic events. In 1942, Neiman enlisted in the United States Army. While serving as a cook for four years, with two years of combat in Europe, he painted sexually suggestive murals in military kitchens and dining halls that reportedly generated enthusiastic responses from women as well as men. He also painted stage sets for Red Cross shows under the auspices of the army’s Special Services division. After his discharge from the army in 1946, Neiman took his high school equivalency examinations and then enrolled in courses in basic drawing techniques at the St. Paul Gallery and School of Art. Later that year he enrolled in School of the Art Institute of Chicago. In 1950, Neiman had joined the faculty of the Art Institute of Chicago, where, for the next 10 years, he taught figure drawing and fashion illustration. He later taught painting at the Elmwood Park and the North Shore art leagues in Chicago and at the Ox-Bow Summer School,  in Saugatuck, Michigan (1957 and 1958). He also initiated an art program for the Atlanta Youth Council.

Throughout his career as a professional artist LeRoy Neiman has earned highly regarded awards, accolades, and commissions. Neiman was invited to be the official artist at five Olympiads and was features on ABC’s television coverage of the Olympics.  He was the CBS Super Bowl computer artist. A few of the awards that Neiman he has been granted include: the gold medal at the Salon d’Art Moderne, in Paris; the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Muscular Dystrophy Association; the Award of Merit from the American Athletic Union; the Gold Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement. Neiman’s work has exhibited around the globe from Venezuela to Finland, New York to Moscow, Los Angeles to Dublin. Neiman’s originals and limited edition serigraphs are collected internationally by prominent public and private museums. Neiman has created a global appeal for his artwork with a strong following from both the novice and most astute art collectors. Today, Neiman lives in New York with his wife Janet and still works in his studio creating masterpieces to be recorded in the history of American masters of the 20^th century.

            American Fine Art Editions, Inc hosts the largest collection of LeRoy Neiman’s artwork in the world including original paintings, drawings, serigraphs, lithographs, sculpture and limited edition books and catalogue raissonnes. Visit our 12,000 sq. ft. showroom in Old Town Scottsdale, AZ or call one of our International Art Consultants to learn more about LeRoy Neiman’s work.  Our website is offered only as a limited place to browse or refresh your memory and is not a reflection of our current inventory. If you need to learn more about collecting, pricing, value or any other art information your International Art Consultant will assist you and give you the one on one attention you deserve.  We hope you find our website helpful and look forward to seeing you in Scottsdale soon.