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 is a famous American artist. He was born on December 11, 1931. He creates beautiful paintings and sculptures. For many years, he worked as an illustrator at the Brooklyn Post Office. He also worked on his own art projects in his free time. Today, he lives in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
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Early Life and Learning
Otto Neals was born in South Carolina. When he was four years old, his family moved to New York. From a very young age, he loved to paint.
Schooling and Art Teachers
Neals went to George Westinghouse Vocational High School. There, he studied commercial art, which is art used for advertising and businesses. He also spent some time at the Brooklyn Museum Art School. He learned from many talented artists. These teachers included Isaac Soyer, Krishna Reddy, Mohammed Khalil, Roberto DeLomanica, and Vivian Schuyler Key.
Art Career and Achievements
Otto Neals has been a very active artist for many decades. He has created many important artworks for public spaces.
Weusi Artist Collective
Since the 1960s, Neals has been a member of the Weusi Artist Collective. This group is made up of artists who work together and support each other.
Public Artworks and Exhibitions
Neals has been asked to create several large art pieces for public places.
- He made ten bronze plaques for the Harlem Walk of Fame.
- He painted a 20-foot mural at Kings County Hospital.
- He created a bronze statue of Percy Sutton for the City University of New York.
- He also made a bronze monument for an Imagination Playground in Prospect Park. This sculpture was inspired by the children's book Peter's Chair.
His art has been shown in famous places like the Smithsonian Institution and Howard University. You can also find his work in the Columbia Museum of Art. Important people like John Lewis, Harry Belafonte, and Oprah Winfrey own his art in their private collections.
In June 2015, the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation held a special show. It looked back at 50 years of his amazing sculptures.
Fulton Art Fair
Otto Neals is one of the artists who started the Fulton Art Fair. This fair is the oldest event in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn that celebrates Black visual arts.
Awards and Recognition
Neals has received awards for his excellent work. The New York City Art Commission gave him their Award for Excellence in Design. This award recognizes his outstanding contributions to art and design in the city.
