Arnold Palmer 1974

LeRoy Neiman made this dynamic painting of Arnold Palmer with vibrant strokes of oil paint. It’s a work that almost entirely abandons traditional artistic techniques. Neiman wasn't interested in the precise rendering of a scene, but rather in capturing the energy of it. His bold, expressive brushwork and vivid color palette transform a simple action into a powerful, almost abstract composition. The thick application of paint gives the surface a tactile quality, as if we can feel the force of Palmer's swing. Neiman was a painter interested in capturing the culture of his day, be that the sports or entertainment industry. He engaged with the skilled traditions of fine art but applied them to subjects that might once have been considered outside the realm of high art. The work involved in this painting is significant: Neiman’s gestural marks suggest the speed and power of the athlete while capturing a sense of the social spectacle around professional golf in the 1970s. By focusing on the materials and the making, we can see how Neiman challenged traditional distinctions between fine art and popular culture.