LeRoy Neiman, born LeRoy Runquist, is best known for his vibrantly colored paintings and screen prints, which draw on Impressionism and Pop Art and frequently feature portraits of athletes and musicians as well as depictions of sporting events. He is renowned for creating art during live coverage of the Olympics and other major American and international sports competitions. He once commented, “I use (bold) color to emphasize the scent, the spirit, and the feeling of the thing I’ve experienced.”
Born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Neiman showed an early aptitude for drawing. After returning home from WWII, he studied at the Saint Paul School of Art and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), where his classmates included Robert Indiana and Leon Golub. Upon graduation in 1950, he began teaching at SAIC.
In 1953, his oil painting Idle Boats won first prize at the Twin City Show, where the Minneapolis Art Institute purchased it. Neiman’s reputation quickly grew, and museums such as the Carnegie Pittsburgh International Exhibition of Contemporary Painting, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington purchased his works.
In 1954, Neiman’s famous association with Playboy magazine began to take shape. Hugh Hefner commissioned Neiman to create an illustration for this fledgling magazine, and his piece won the 1954 Chicago Art Directors Award. This led to a relationship with Playboy that lasted five decades and included Neiman writing and illustrating the “Man at His Leisure” section and the creation of the well-known “Femlin” — a female nymph wearing only opera gloves, stockings and high heels — which appeared on the “Party Jokes” page in every issue since 1955.
In 1970, the 5th Dimension commissioned Neiman to create a cover illustration for the pop group’s album Portrait. In 1994, he created the illustration used for the playbill and the immense Broadway mural for the musical Busker Alley. He was inducted as a Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois and awarded the highest honor of the state of Illinois, the Order of Lincoln, in 2009.
Today, you can find Neiman’s works in the collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Indianapolis Museum of Art (Newfields), among others.
On 1stDibs, find LeRoy Neiman prints, drawings, paintings and more.
Leroy Neiman Silk Tapestry, Elephant Stampede, Signed and Numbered
By LeRoy Neiman
Located in Norwood, NJ
LeRoy Neiman (American, 1921-2012) Elephant Stampede Silk Tapestry, hand signed. 59 x 80 inches (149.9 x 203.2 cm) From and edition of 36/88. Published by Knoedler Publishing, N...
Silk
Hand Signed Limited Edition Serigraph "Golf Winners" by Leroy Neiman
By LeRoy Neiman
Located in San Diego, CA
Hand signed limited edition serigraph "Golf Winners" by Leroy Neiman, circa 1984. The print is in very good vintage condition and is signed in lower right by the artist as well as in...
Paper
Indian Wall Silk and Sequin Elephants Tapestry, circa 1900
Located in Labrit, Landes
Indian wall tapestry. This tapestry representing embossed, entirely handmade, with gold and silver threads and sequins. The tapestry represents the scene of a royal procession surro...
Silk, Sequins
$6,322Sale Price|20% Off
H 98.04 in W 62.21 in D 0.48 in
1870 Antique French Tapestry Wool & Silk Tapestry Beige Handmade Tapestry
Located in New York, NY
This is a very fine Authentic Antique French Tapestry in Wool & Silk. This piece is truly a magnificent work of art featuring a lady feeding birds while a dog watches nearby. It ...
Silk
$2,950
H 27.25 in W 26.25 in D 1.38 in
Hand Signed Limited Edition Serigraph "Abraham Lincoln" by Leroy Neiman
By LeRoy Neiman
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice hand signed limited edition framed serigraph "Abraham Lincoln" by Leroy Neiman, circa 1968. The print is in very good vintage condition and is signed in lower left by the...
Paper
$3,978
H 50.4 in W 33.08 in D 0.79 in
"Frondaison" Wall Tapestry by J.C Bissery from the 1970s, Signed and Numbered
By Jean Claude Bissery
Located in Beirut, LB
"Frondaison" vertical wall tapestry according to a draw of Jean Claude Bissery, in handwoven wool, despicting a scene of flowers in green and blue color. Applied manufacturer's lab...
Wool
LeRoy Neiman "Stock Exchange" 1977 Print
By LeRoy Neiman
Located in Toledo, OH
This print of LeRoy Neiman's "Stock Exchange" is from 1977 and is in excellent condition. The print features figures at work at the New York Stock Exchange. LeRoy Neiman (1921-2012) ...
Paper
Abstract Leroy Neiman Golf Tournament Serigraph
By LeRoy Neiman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A colorful serigraph depicting an abstract illustration of a golf tournament, made by the renowned artist Leroy Neiman; depicting a golf competitor as the main focal point and specta...
Giltwood, Paper
$573
H 50.4 in W 1.19 in D 35.44 in
Vintage Masana Story Tapestry Hand Made Signed and Numbered Lebowa South Africa
Located in Bochum, NRW
Vintage Masana Story tapestry, a handmade, signed, and numbered piece from Lebowa, South Africa. Measuring 90 x 128 cm, this tapestry is a stunning example of African folk art and...
Wool
$1,125
H 16.13 in W 13.25 in D 0.63 in
Aubusson - Vintage Silk & Wool Floral Tapestry - Signed - France - 20th Century
By Aubusson Manufacture
Located in Chatham, ON
Aubusson - Vintage silk and wool floral tapestry - mounted to the original stretcher along the edges - unframed - signed lower right - France - early/mid 20th century. Good vintag...
Wool, Silk
$3,900
H 38.5 in W 50 in D 1.25 in
LeRoy Neiman Signed Lithograph "Prostituee Francaise" La Nuit De Paris
By LeRoy Neiman
Located in Tustin, CA
"Prostituee Francaise" is a hand signed, limited edition original lithograph by noted, deceased American artist, LeRoy Neiman (1921-2012). One of a limited edition of only 300, created in 1980, "Prostituee Francaise" (also known as "La Nuit De Paris") displays Neiman's renowned masterful technique and detail in 10 sexy vignettes depicting seduction in the night in Paris...
Paper
Zabihi Collection Indian Elephant Embroidery Tapestry Textile
Located in New York, NY
Hand-embroidered Indian Large Patchwork Elephant Textile Confabulated Tapestry from the 2nd quarter of the 20th Century made from old 19th-century textile fragments Measures: 6'10" ...
Cotton, Beads
$1,500
H 37.5 in W 32.25 in D 1.5 in
Leroy Neiman Signed & Numbered Limited Edition Etching 191/250 Dalmatian
By LeRoy Neiman
Located in Toledo, OH
Leroy Neiman hand signed limited edition original etching "Dalmatian" 191/250. Signed in pencil lower right. Framed in gold and black tone fra...
Paper
LeRoy Neiman Silk Tapestry, Signed and Numbered
By LeRoy Neiman
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a stunning example of a LeRay Neiman signed and numbered silk tapestry of the New York Stock Exchange at 2:00 pm on a Trading Day. You can feel the energy of the stock exchan...
Silk