About LeRoy Neiman

LeRoy Neiman (1921–2012) Artist, Teacher, Illustrator, Chronicler, Celebrity, Philanthropist LeRoy Neiman (born LeRoy Leslie Runquist, June 8, 1921 – June 20, 2012) was an American artist known for his brilliantly colored, expressionist paintings and screenprints of athletes, musicians, and sporting events. Neiman portrayed life as a series of epic moments, alive with palpable drama, and enacted on a world stage by the greatest athletes and entertainers. He did pre-fight sketches for the first Muhammed Ali-Joe Frazier bout for The New York Times Magazine. But Neiman owed his increasing worldwide renown to television. He not only made art available to the masses via TV; he helped to demystify art for everyone who saw his work. Named the official artist of the Olympiad in 1972, he held that role through five Olympics. His al fresco paintings of the Olympic competitions made his art visible to millions of people. And his TV appearances—donning his handlebar mustache and his waving ever-present Cuban cigar—made Neiman a media showman and one of the world’s most famous living artists. “For an artist, watching a [Joe] Namath throw a football, or a Willie Mays hit a baseball is an experience far more overpowering than painting a beautiful woman or leading political figure.” —LeRoy Neiman, 1972