LeRoy Neiman
LeRoy Neiman (1921–2012) was one of America's most recognized popular artists, celebrated for his bold, expressionistic depictions of sports, celebrity, and the high-energy scenes of modern life. His serigraphy prints — vibrant, gestural, and instantly recognizable — remain among the most widely collected American prints of the 20th century. Austin Auction Gallery sells and appraises LeRoy Neiman artwork.
About the Artist
Born Leroy Runquist in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1921, Neiman studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and later the School of the Art Institute before settling in New York. His long association with Playboy magazine — which began in 1954 and continued for decades — brought his work to a mass audience, and his role as the on-air artist for ABC's Wide World of Sports and five consecutive Olympic Games (1972–1984) made him a household name. He painted Muhammad Ali, Frank Sinatra, President Kennedy, and the Super Bowl; his canvases appeared in casinos, corporate boardrooms, and living rooms across America.
Neiman's signature style — bold, gestural brushwork in pure, unmixed color against rich dark grounds — was developed in the 1950s and remained consistent for six decades. He worked in oils, gouache, and felt-tip marker (his signature quick sketching medium), but his serigraphy prints became the primary vehicle for bringing his work to a broad market. Published in large editions through Knoedler Publishing and other houses, these serigraphy prints covered every corner of his subject matter — boxing, horse racing, polo, jazz, casino life, celebrity portraits — and are the Neiman works most commonly found at auction today. He died in New York in June 2012 and the LeRoy Neiman Foundation continues to support arts education.
Serigraphy prints typically $300–$3,000 depending on subject, edition size, and condition; original oil paintings $10,000–$200,000+; signed and numbered prints with certificates of authenticity in excellent condition at the higher end of ranges.