Racquetball 1981

LeRoy Neiman made this painting of racquetball with luscious strokes of oil paint, building a flurry of oranges, yellows, blues and pinks. It’s like he’s right there in the game with them, painting as they dart across the court! I love the physicality of this painting. You can feel the movement and the energy, as Neiman’s brush dances around the players. I imagine him, focused and loose, making quick decisions. Look at how the bodies are formed with strokes of blues and greens – the colour is not descriptive but constructive. Each brushstroke feels alive and intentional, building the intensity of the moment. This bold, gestural style is typical of Neiman, and reminds me a little of Joan Mitchell or Willem de Kooning. All these artists are having a conversation across time. They celebrate the act of painting itself, its capacity to capture not just what we see, but how we feel.