Otto Neals facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Otto Neals
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Otto Neals with Marty Markowitz in 2009
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| Born | December 11, 1931 |
| Occupation | painter and sculptor |
Otto Neals (born December 11, 1931) is an amazing American artist. He is known for his beautiful paintings and sculptures. For many years, Mr. Neals worked as an illustrator at the Brooklyn Post Office. But in his free time, he created his own art. Today, he lives in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
Growing Up and Learning Art
Otto Neals was born in South Carolina. When he was four years old, his family moved to New York. From a very young age, Otto loved to paint.
He went to George Westinghouse Vocational High School. There, he studied commercial art. This is art used for things like advertising. He also spent some time at the Brooklyn Museum Art School. Mr. Neals learned from many famous artists. Some of his teachers included Isaac Soyer and Krishna Reddy.
His Art Career
Otto Neals has been a member of the Weusi Artist Collective since the 1960s. This is a group of artists who work together.
Mr. Neals has created many public artworks. These are art pieces for everyone to enjoy. Some of his famous works include:
- Ten bronze plaques for the Harlem Walk of Fame.
- A 20-foot mural at Kings County Hospital.
- A bronze statue of Percy Sutton at the City University of New York.
- A bronze monument in Prospect Park. This artwork was inspired by the children's book Peter's Chair. It is part of an Imagination Playground.
His art is shown in important places like the Smithsonian Institution and Howard University. Famous people like John Lewis and Oprah Winfrey also own his artworks.
In 2015, the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation held a special show. It celebrated 50 years of his sculptures.
Otto Neals also helped start the Fulton Art Fair. This is the oldest event in Bedford-Stuyvesant that shows art by Black artists. He has won awards for his excellent designs, including one from the New York City Art Commission.
