oilpaintin's blog: "Leroy Neiman paintings"

As everyone now knows, the legendary American artist, LeRoy Neiman, passed away in June, 2012 at the age of 91. Word of his passing was flashed around the world by broadcast networks like NBC and major newspapers like the New York Times. It was news because, for years, LeRoy Neiman has been widely regarded as America's most admired and collected artist. His exciting and intensely colorful paintings, sketches, and serigraphs not only capture the vibrant spirit of American and global culture as few other artists have, his works also reflect diverse moods and lifestyles, as they changed and evolved over the five decades LeRoy worked as an artist. Throughout his long and distinguished career, Neiman has become the true chronicler of our times and, if for no other reason, this certainly assures his place in art history.

Today, this reputation as America's favorite artist and cultural chronicler is as strong as ever, as is the demand for Leroy Neiman paintings.As his primary art dealer and representative for over 35 years, Franklin Bowles Galleries is committed to making sure that this remarkable legacy continues to thrive and grow so that future generations will enjoy the same opportunity to admire and collect his art. To this purpose, we have worked closely with the LeRoy Neiman Foundation over the past year to assemble and present to Neiman's collectors a broad selection of his key works—in celebration of the unique contribution to art and culture that he has made.

It is my distinct honor and delight to introduce to you, on the anniversary of the artist's death, this major memorial exhibition of some of the finest artworks from LeRoy's personal archives, most never before seen by the public. These exciting, distinctive works on paper span many different eras, both in Neiman's career and in international culture. Each piece accurately records some aspect of the changing times. They are seminal works that Neiman himself regarded among his best—too important and close to his heart to part with. Only now, with the consent of Neiman's family and the LeRoy Neiman Foundation, has our gallery been given exclusive access to these vibrant Neiman drawings and color sketches, along with permission to exhibit and offer them to his adoring public.

I invite you now to look through this beautiful catalogue and experience for yourself LeRoy's exquisite portrayal of the times he lived through, with all its ideals and excesses, aspirations and struggles, exhilarating heights and humbling defeats. Neiman saw and participated in it all and—fortunately for us—had the immense artistic talent and skill to capture it in spontaneous, colorful images on paper, board, and canvas. There is no doubt in my mind that just as people today turn to the artwork of Daumier to find out what life was like in late 19th-century France, so people living a hundred years from now will turn to the artwork of LeRoy Neiman to find out what life was like in late 20th-century America. Luckily, you don't have to wait that long. You can find out right now where we have been and where we might be headed, simply by coming to this exhibition and looking at the iconic images that LeRoy Neiman has created for us.