The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, announces the temporary exhibition “Art of the Mob: The LeRoy Neiman Portraits,” and its unveiling on Friday, March 21 in partnership with the LeRoy Neiman and Janet Byrne Neiman Foundation.
The Museum’s first-ever fine art exhibition features 13 original, previously unexhibited portraits of infamous organized crime and eminent law enforcement figures created by legendary artist LeRoy Neiman, whose vibrant impressionistic works famously immortalized dramatic moments in sports, entertainment and American society. The exhibition will be on view through the end of 2025 in the Museum’s Oscar B. Goodman Room on the Museum’s third floor.
The collection includes 10 mixed media works on paper created specifically for The Mob Museum between 2009 and 2011.
Neiman’s portraits depict dynamically rendered likenesses of Meyer Lansky, John Gotti, Bugsy Siegel, Mickey Cohen, Albert Anastasia, Frankie Carbo, “Machine Gun Jack” McGurn, Arnold Rothstein, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and Al Capone’s 1928 Cadillac. Donated by the LeRoy Neiman and Janet Byrne Neiman Foundation, these 10 artworks will be accessioned into the Museum’s collection. In addition, three earlier works—portraits of John Dillinger, Al Capone and Frank Costello—will be on loan from the foundation for the exhibition.
Neiman’s work brought him to Las Vegas throughout his life and in 2005 he was asked to commission the poster for the city’s centennial celebration. That oil work “Celebrating 100 Years of Neon” solidified his status as a Las Vegas legend. During the celebration, he interacted with then Mayor Oscar Goodman – The Mob Museum’s chief visionary. In the late 2000s, after Neiman learned about The Mob Museum’s development, he was inspired to create a series of portraits reflecting organized crime’s most infamous characters and their law enforcement counterparts. Though he passed away in 2012 before he could personally gift the 10 works, the foundation has now made his vision a reality.
“Neiman died before having the opportunity to gift the works on paper to the Museum himself, but more than a decade later, the LeRoy Neiman and Janet Byrne Neiman Foundation is pleased to do so in his honor,” said Tara Zabor, executive director of the foundation.
Known for his signature handlebar mustache, ever-present cigar and unmistakable impressionistic style, Neiman was one of the 20th century’s most recognized and entrepreneurial artists. His bold, colorful paintings graced the pages of Playboy and Sports Illustrated, bringing to life scenes from heavyweight championship fights, Super Bowls and social hotspots worldwide. He was a frequent visitor to Las Vegas, where he captured the city’s distinctive energy, painting showgirls, gamblers and legendary boxing matches.
“LeRoy Neiman’s distinctively bold and energetic style is perfectly suited to portray the most notorious crime figures of 20th century America,” said Geoff Schumacher, vice president of exhibits and programs, The Mob Museum. “We are pleased to be able to display these works of art, including 10 he created specifically for our Museum.”
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