Otto Neals

Otto Neals (born December 11, 1931[1]) is an American painter and sculptor. Originally from South Carolina, he came to New York at four years old and began painting as a child. He spent most of career working as an illustrator at the Brooklyn Post Office, and pursued independent art projects on nights and weekends.[2] Now in his eighties, he still resides in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. This self-taught[3] artist still spends a full day creating his art just as he has done for over 76 years. Although he works out of his basement, he prefers his backyard when weather permits.[4]

Otto Neals
Otto Neals with Marty Markowitz in 2009
Born (1931-12-11) December 11, 1931
Occupationpainter and sculptor

Early life and education

Neals' education was in Brooklyn, studying commercial art at George Westinghouse Vocational High School, and briefly attended the Brooklyn Museum Art School, though he considers himself largely self-taught. He studied with artists such as Isaac Soyer, Krishna Reddy, Mohammed Khalil, Roberto DeLomanica and Vivian Schuyler Key.[5]

Career

Neals has been a member of the Weusi Artist Collective since the 1960s.[6]

Neals has been commissioned to execute several public works including ten bronze plaques for the Harlem Walk of Fame on 135th street, a 20-foot mural in Kings County Hospital, a bronze of Percy Sutton at the City University of New York, and a bronze monument inspired by the children's book Peter's Chair, as centerpiece of an Imagination Playground in Prospect Park.[2][3] His work can also be found in institutional collections including the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.; Howard University, Washington, D.C.; The Studio Museum in Harlem, NY; Ghana National Museum, Ghana; Columbia Museum, Columbia, SC,[7] the private collections of Congressman John Lewis, Harry Belafonte, and Oprah Winfrey,[8] and was also the subject of an exhibition in the gallery inside the Soldiers' and Sailors' Arch at Grand Army Plaza.[2]

Katherine Ellington has written about Otto Neals' work and legacy: "From the Harlem Renaissance through the Black Arts Movement, the list of Neals' friends, mentors and collaborators included the following: Vivian Schuyler Key, Jacob Lawrence, Ernest Crichlow, Emma Amos and Charles Alston."[9]

In June 2015, the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation held a 50-year retrospective of his sculptures.[10]

Neals is a founding artist of the Fulton Art Fair, the oldest Black visual arts event in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.[11]

Mr. Neals has been the recipient of many awards during his amazing career as an African American artist residing in New York City. He was presented with the New York City Art Commission's award for Excellence in Design.[12]

References
  1. "Weusi Artist Collective, NYC Artists". Weusi Artist Collective, NYC Artists. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
  2. Martin, Douglas (1997-06-21). "Where Imaginations Run Wild". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-11-16.
  3. Fractenberg, Ben (November 11, 2014). "Brooklyn Artist Otto Neals Gets Huge 5-Gallery Retrospective". DNAinfo New York. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
  4. Richardson, Clem (February 25, 2011). "Brooklyn artist Otto Neals, 80, is master of many mediums". Daily News. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  5. "Otto Neals - SC African American". SC African American. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  6. "Weusi Artist Collective, NYC Artists". Weusi Artist Collective, NYC Artists. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  7. "Masters Among Us Otto Neals". blackartinamerica.com. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-10.
  8. ""Otto Neals: An Artistic Legacy" 2015 – CUNY Newswire – CUNY". www.cuny.edu. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
  9. "Brooklyn Summer Muse: Otto Neals - BK Nation". BK Nation. 2015-08-11. Retrieved 2016-12-10.
  10. "Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation presents Otto Neals sculpture retrospective | Brooklyn Daily Eagle". www.brooklyneagle.com. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
  11. "Bed-Stuy's Fulton Art Fair celebrates the artists of the African diaspora | Brooklyn Daily Eagle". www.brooklyneagle.com. Retrieved 2016-06-19.
  12. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-otto-neals-retrospective#/. Retrieved 2 October 2016. Missing or empty |title= (help)
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