LeRoy Neiman

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LeRoy Neiman is an American artist known for his brilliantly colored, semi-abstract paintings and screen prints of athletes and sporting events.

Born on June 8, 1922 (although he has often been mislabeled as being born in other years, mainly 1927 although government records show 1922 as the actual date) in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was abandoned by his father at an early age, Neiman and his mother, Lydia, were forced to fend for themselves. Neiman distinguished himself by drawing.

In 1942 Neiman left high-school to enlist in the US Army where he spent four years before returning to St. Paul to finish his high-school degree.

In addition to being an internationally renowned sports artist, Neiman has created many works from his experience on safari including a series of animal portraits that are some of his most sought-after pieces including "Portrait of the Lion," "Portrait of the Elephant," and "Portrait of the Tiger." Some of his other subjects include sailing, cuisine, golf, boxing, horses, celebrities and famous locations. He is one of the most successful contemporary illustrators. Neiman produces about six different serigraph subjects a year. Generally priced from $3,000 to $6,000 each, gross annual sales of new serigraphs alone top $10 million. Original's can sell for up to $500,000.00 for works such as "Stretch Stampede," a mammoth 1975 oil painting of the Kentucky Derby bearing that price tag.

Neiman studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (where he also later taught), the University of Chicago, and the University of Illinois. LeRoy Neiman continues his painting as he enters his mid 80's. (Mr. Neiman doesn't like his age to frame who he currently is).

Neiman, and his wife of 50 years (yes married in 1957!) Janet (maiden name, Bryne) live in New York City at the Hotel des Artistes, their home base for some 33 years. Made up of double-height rooms that over look Central Park, this exclusive New York City landmark was originally intended for painters. Norman Rockwell once lived here, yet celebrities such as Rudolph Valentino, Noel Coward and ex-mayor John Lindsay have also called it home. Neiman's painting studio, offices, and home are on one floor, his archives on another, and his penthouse at the top.

He became well known for creating images depicting "America at Play". He focused on this type of work during his tenure at Playboy Magazine, for which he still illustrates monthly. He is probably the most popular sports artist in the world, followed only by younger artists Stephan Holland and Richard T. Slone.

His works are distributed by Hammer Graphics (who have represented him for over 35 years) and Knoedler Publishing Co of New York and sold by many galleries and dealers. His works have been displayed in museums, sold at auction, and displayed in galleries and major online distributors. He has begun to join the ranks of artists whose works can bring hundreds of thousands. To view works online, you can check out many sites by searching LeRoy Neiman.

His studio is in New York City, where he works in oil, enamel, watercolor, pencil drawings, pastels, serigraphy and some lithographs and etching. In 2007, he was presented with the Sport Artist of the Year Award from the United States Sports Academy. Neiman is listed in Art Collector's Almanac, Who's Who in the East, Who's Who in American Art, Who's Who in America, Who's Who in the World.

[edit] Trivia

Neiman worked as an illustrator for department store Carson, Pirie, Scott & Co. in Chicago in the early 1950s alongside a copywriter named Hugh Hefner. After Hefner started Playboy magazine in 1953, Neiman's artwork was featured in several issues. To this day Neiman continues to illustrate the "Femlin," a Playboy character that is featured every month on the jokes page. Neiman's early success is largely considered to be a direct result of his friendship with Hefner.

Neiman is a known cigar aficionado, he is rarely photographed without a cigar in hand. His favorite cigars are Punch.

Neiman played himself in the movie Rocky Balboa

[edit] External links

• The Official LeRoy Neiman Website
• American Fine Art Editions, Inc. hosts the largest collection of Neiman's work in the world and offers a pleathora of information about LeRoy Neiman, as well as advise for collectors, or those considering acquiring one of his pieces, directly on their website. Their website also offers recent news about the art world and speifically LeRoy Neiman.
• Prints.Com Complete Selection of LeRoy Neiman's Art On Sale Today
• [http://www.asama.org/
• Doubletake Gallery Online Catalog of Limited Editions
• 1999 Radio Interview with Chris & Rob