Artist Neiman, who painted sports, leisure events, dies

— Painter and sketch artist LeRoy Neiman, best-known for evoking the kinetic energy of the world’s biggest sporting and leisure events with bright quick strokes, died Wednesday at age 91.

Neiman was the official painter of five Olympiads and was a contributing artist at Playboy magazine for many years. His longtime publicist, Gail Parenteau, confirmed his death at a Manhattan hospital Wednesday but didn’t disclose the cause.

In 1972, Neiman sketched the world chess tournament between Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer in Reykjavik, Iceland, for a live television audience. He also produced live drawings of the Olympics for TV and was the official computer artist of the Super Bowl for CBS.

Neiman’s paintings, many executed in household enamel paints that allowed him his fast-moving strokes, are an explosion in reds, blues, pinks, greens and yellows of pure kinetic energy.

He worked in many media, producing thousands of etchings, lithographs and silk-screen prints known as serigraphy.

With his sketchbook and pencil, trademark handlebar mustache and slicked-back hair, Neiman was instantly recognizable.

Neiman was a World War II veteran who participated in the invasion of Normandy and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a self-described workaholic who seldom took vacations and had no hobbies. He worked daily in his home studio at the Hotel des Artistes near Central Park, which he shared with his wife.

Neiman is survived by his wife of 55 years, Janet Byrne Neiman.

Front Section, Pages 3 on 06/21/2012

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