A residence owned for decades by the late LeRoy Neiman, the pioneering pop artist who captured cultural moments through vivid strokes of color, has come up for sale on the Upper West Side of Manhattan for $4.5 million.
The south-facing duplex on the 15th and 16th floors of Hotel des Artistes in Lincoln Square is one of several units in the building with decades of ties to the artist. The two-bedroom, three-bathroom spread, which has had one owner since Neiman’s days, was listed last week with Allison Chiaramonte and Tania Isacoff Friedland of Warburg Realty.
Like the artist who once lived and worked there, the Hotel des Artistes has a timeless quality spanning generations. Chiaramonte noted that “the building’s original new-Gothic details have been beautifully incorporated into a modern renovation, and perhaps made more beautiful in contrast.”
The white-walled floor plan features a proper foyer that opens to a light-filled living room with original plaster ceilings and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves extending across the far wall. Across the room, an oversized wood-burning fireplace features an original carved oak surround. Bands of windows take in a view of Central Park.
Chiaramonte said that the ornate details serve as a subtle nod to the building’s history as an artist’s cooperative and Neiman himself.
“When the southern light floods into the great room and hits the decorative plaster ceilings, you can imagine it being the perfect artist’s light,” she added.
An updated and enhanced chef’s kitchen sits off the living room area and is equipped with Calacatta marble countertops, a farmhouse-style sink and high-end appliances. Two bedrooms and a large landing/den lie upstairs and include a primary bedroom suite with walk-in closets and an updated bath.
The full-service Hotel des Artistes building, built in 1917, is also equipped with a range of resident amenities including a swimming pool, squash court and state-of-the-art gym. Residents also have access to a landscaped roof terrace as well as dining service from the on-site restaurant, Leopard at the des Artistes.
Neiman was known for his unmistakable handlebar mustache and a legacy of brightly colored impressionist paintings that often centered on epic scenes from music and sporting events such as the Olympics, championship boxing and the Kentucky Derby. He died in 2012 at 91.