New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics 1969

This is a painting of the New York Knicks versus the Boston Celtics, made by LeRoy Neiman with these really juicy strokes, kind of like he's sketching with paint. I love how Neiman doesn't get bogged down in details; it's all about capturing the energy of the game. Look at the way he uses color – these bright oranges and greens that bleed into each other, creating a sense of movement and excitement. The surface is alive with texture, like he's wrestling with the paint to get it just right. My eye keeps getting drawn to the basketball itself, how it’s rendered with these thick, almost sculptural strokes. It’s not just a ball, it’s a focal point, a symbol of the game's dynamism. It makes me think of someone like Joan Mitchell, in how both artists share this love of gestural abstraction, where the act of painting is as important as what's being depicted. It's a reminder that art isn't about perfect representation, it's about capturing a feeling, an emotion, a moment in time.