Colorful LeRoy Neiman Sports Prints Come to Auction With Dane Fine Art

Over 1,100 lots of modern and contemporary art will come to auction with Dane Fine Art this month, including a selection of prints by American artist LeRoy Neiman. Known for his lively, impressionistic depictions of sporting events and other exuberant scenes, Neiman made use of a bold color palette in many of his works. “I do not depart from the colors borrowed from life,” the artist said. “But I use color to emphasize the scent, the spirit, and the feeling of the thing I’ve experienced.”

Here are some notable works by LeRoy Neiman available in the upcoming sale.

Cal Ripken, 2000

Leading this auction is LeRoy Neiman’s depiction of American baseball player Cal Ripken (lot #0075; estimate: USD 11,500 – $16,000). This 2000 color serigraph on paper shows Ripken mid-air, a baseball sharply outlined by the blue-black sky in the background. Details of the stadium can be seen behind Ripken: numerical banners outside the right-field wall display the numbers “2131”, reflecting the number of consecutive games played by Ripken when he surpassed Lou Gehrig’s record in 1995. Ripken still holds the record for the longest consecutive games played in Major League Baseball history. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007. The available serigraph is signed by both Neiman and Ripken.

Giants-Broncos Classic, 1987

Also available with Dane Fine Art this month is LeRoy Neiman’s Giants-Broncos Classic from 1987 (lot #0149; estimate: $4,000 – $6,000). This original serigraph on paper comes from a limited edition of 375. This exuberant, movement-filled print shows assorted players from the New York Giants and the Denver Broncos during the Super Bowl XXI of January, 1987, deciding the champion of the 1986 football season. The Giants eventually defeated the Broncos to secure the team’s first Super Bowl title in 30 years. In the offered serigraph, the players tussle on an electric green field with a baby blue sky overhead.

Slapshot Hockey (New York Rangers), 1974

LeRoy Neiman’s Slapshot Hockey (New York Rangers) serigraph on paper from 1974 will be offered in the upcoming sale (lot #1110; estimate: $6,000 – $8,000). It is hand-signed by the artist in the lower right. Unlike many of his other works, which bring the viewer close to a sporting event’s action, this piece takes a stadium view of the pictured hockey game. The action on the ice is mirrored by the wall of fans in the seats, which Neiman rendered with numerous daubs of color. The work is named after the slapshot, a powerful hockey move that prioritizes power and speed.

Café Deux Magot, 1976

A mid-career work by LeRoy Neiman is also available. Café Deux Magot from 1976 comes to auction with an estimate of $8,000 to $11,000 (lot #0248). In addition to his sports paintings and prints, Neiman traveled extensively and captured the lively scenes that he encountered. This included visits to the French Riviera, Venice, and Rome while Neiman was living in Paris during the 1960s. The available color serigraph on paper is hand-signed by the artist and depicts a bustling French café. Rendered in shades of yellow, green, and ochre, the piece captures the movement of the crowded restaurant using broad, impressionistic strokes. Six French flags wave over the café’s awning, setting the scene.  

Dane Fine Art’s November Sale of Modern & Contemporary Art will begin at 12:00 PM EST on November 30, 2023. To view the complete catalog and register to place a bid, visit Bidsquare.

Looking for more auction news this November? Check out Auction Daily’s coverage of notable Thanksgiving-themed art auction highlights from 2023.