Racing 1967

LeRoy Neiman made this painting, Racing, with big strokes of bright colour and palpable enthusiasm. Imagine him standing before the canvas, brush loaded, conjuring this scene with swift, assured gestures. The paint is thick, almost sculptural in places, especially in the horses. Look at how each daub captures the light and suggests movement. I bet he was thinking about the thrill and the pageantry of the race, but also the energy, the raw physicality of these horses. That one dark horse and jockey in particular, lunging forward, is pure expressive energy. Neiman’s work reminds me of other painters, from Delacroix to contemporary artists who embrace the messy vitality of paint. He's part of that ongoing conversation, pushing the boundaries of representation while celebrating the sheer joy of mark-making. It's a language of feeling, and in this painting, Neiman speaks it fluently.