One of America’s most popular car artists is, in actual fact, one of America’s greatest living artists, period. One of the true stars of the car art world, LeRoy Neiman had made a career depicting a world that anyone could be forgiven for aspiring to – and in doing so has become a national treasure, in the eyes of many. His highly stylised works, which combine fauvism and social realism, frequently trade for upwards of five figures. As one of the earliest car artists still working today, Neiman is a pretty unique figure, having captured much of the relevant history of the motor car in extremely bold color, from early motor racing to recent Formula One.

LeRoy Neiman lives today at the Hotel des Artistes in New York. One of his former neighbors there, Norman Rockwell, was another key contributor to the world of car art. It is worth paying a visit to the location of the hotel, simply to get an idea for the ambience which nourished, and continues to nourish, great artists. Although 88 years old only last month, Neiman still paints, and still loves the American sports scene, not least its cars. Hats must be taken off as a tribute to one of the legends.