LeRoy Neiman (1921-2012) was best known for his brilliantly colored, expressionist paintings and screenprints of athletes, musicians, and sporting events. LeRoy Neiman: A Keen Observer of Style focuses on his early work as a fashion illustrator and how it informed his ongoing interest in capturing the clothing, gesture, and style of his subjects. Featuring 80 drawings and paintings from the collection of the LeRoy and Janet Byrne Neiman Foundation, the exhibition spans Neiman’s work from the 1950s through 2000. Neiman was always accompanied by his sketchbook, and his art reflects his curiosity and powers of observation. LeRoy Neiman attended SAIC from 1946 to 1950 and taught figure drawing and fashion illustration at SAIC for the following decade. He received an honorary degree in 2006.
LeRoy Neiman: A Keen Observer of Style was originally curated by Sara Hume, PhD, for the Kent State University Museum. The exhibition was made possible through a partnership with the LeRoy and Janet Byrne Neiman Foundation. Exhibition programs at SAIC are made possible through the generous support of BLICK Art Materials. SAIC also acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council and the Statsinger Cohen Foundation.
SAIC Galleries, located at 33 East Washington Street, is free and open to the public Monday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m, now through Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026. A state-issued ID is required for entry. Visit saic.edu/exhibitions/saic-galleries to learn more.
Top image credit: LeRoy Neiman, Ladies and Gentlemen at the Night Club, 1957, Tempera on paper, Courtesy of the LeRoy Neiman and Janet Byrne Neiman Foundation