16th at Cypress 1982

LeRoy Neiman made "16th at Cypress" using bright colors that practically leap off the surface. It’s like he’s not just painting a picture, but capturing the energy of the scene, the excitement of the crowd. The thick paint and visible brushstrokes give it a real sense of immediacy, like he’s right there in the moment, quickly laying down what he sees and feels. Look at the way he renders the crowd—just a bunch of quick strokes, but somehow they all come together to suggest movement and sound. It’s almost abstract, but it totally works. And the way he uses color is so bold, so unafraid. Neiman’s work reminds me a bit of Matisse in that sense, that it's about capturing life's vibrancy rather than portraying it exactly. Art is a conversation, and Neiman's contribution is his unique way of seeing and feeling the world.