Honoring the artistry and legacy of LeRoy Neiman and Dave Schultz
Two Masters, One Creative Spirit
Though their mediums were different, LeRoy Neiman and Dave Schultz shared the same qualities: depth, humility, generosity of spirit, and complete presence in every moment.
Neiman captured life in vivid color, expressing sport with energy, vitality, and drama. Schultz brought that same artistry to the mat, approaching wrestling as a form of creation—precision paired with instinct, mastery paired with imagination. Both men became global influences, inspiring generations across five continents through a blend of mastery, humanity, and heart.
At their core, both believed in the same truth: sport is creation, and creation is what endures.
The Olympic Legacy of LeRoy Neiman
As the official artist for the 1960, 1972, 1976, 1980, and 1984 Olympic Games, Neiman elevated the world’s greatest athletic moments through his iconic expressionist style. His work breathed color into history and amplified the emotion of performance. He saw athletes not just as competitors, but as creators, each movement a brushstroke, each moment a story.
“Inside art, sport, and life is great depth,” said Jesse Leng, Co-Founder and CEO of RUDIS. “This collection reflects the layers of emotion, history, and spirit that shape champions. We are humbled by the creators and competitors whose depth shapes sport and culture in every generation. To bring Dave Schultz, Muhammad Ali, and LeRoy Neiman together in one collection is a profound honor and privilege.”
“The LeRoy Neiman x RUDIS Collection embodies what we believe sport truly is, an art form,” said Natalie Rohyans, Chief Brand Officer of RUDIS. “Neiman captured the same emotion, energy, and creativity that wrestling demands. This collaboration represents our respect for those who don’t just compete, but create.”
Dave Schultz: The Mat Artist
Dave Schultz and LeRoy Neiman were kindred spirits, masters of technique, humble in character, and generous with their attention and time. Dave wrestled with the same artistry that LeRoy painted: fully present, deeply passionate, and endlessly curious.
His creativity shaped modern wrestling and touched athletes around the world. Like Neiman, Dave lived with spirit, life, and love, qualities that continue to ripple into new generations. Some legacies travel through time the way light passes through stained glass, changing, deepening, and casting new color on every generation they touch.
Dave’s and LeRoy’s legacies share that luminous quality. This collaboration reflects that lineage: a celebration of their artistry and the enduring stories they left behind.
“LeRoy Neiman showed the world that sport is more than movement; it is emotion, story, and spirit. Dave lived that truth, and wrestling still carries it today. This collection reminds us how art can honor the people and moments that shaped us. I am grateful to see these legacies continue to inspire a new generation.”
- John Bardis, who originally commissioned Neiman’s portrait of Dave Schultz
A Full-Circle Moment
Nearly thirty years ago, LeRoy Neiman honored Dave Schultz through his artwork. Today, RUDIS honors them both, artist and athlete, through a collection rooted in legacy, creativity, and the Olympic spirit.
“To see Dave’s name and story carried forward in a way that also celebrates LeRoy’s legacy feels full circle,” said Nancy Schultz, Global Wrestling Advocate and RUDIS Partner. “Both men were creators in their own right, LeRoy with his brush, Dave on the mat. I’m honored to help ensure their impact on sport and art lives on.”
The Mat & Beyond
In addition to the LeRoy Nieman x Dave Schultz line, the collection will include select Muhammad Ali x Neiman apparel pieces, honoring another of Neiman’s most iconic subjects and extending the celebration of sport, artistry, and expression that shaped his body of work.
“LeRoy Neiman believed that sports and athletes carry the same emotional force as great art and artists, and this collaboration brings that belief to life in a powerful new way. This collection with RUDIS honors not only LeRoy’s iconic vision, but the creative spirit that defined Dave Schultz and so many of the athletes he captured. Seeing LeRoy’s work continue to inspire new generations—on the mat and beyond—is a testament to the enduring vibrancy of his art and the humanity at its core.” - Tara Zabor, Executive Director of the LeRoy Neiman & Janet Byrne Neiman Foundation
The Art Lives On
The LeRoy Neiman x RUDIS Collection stands as more than a collaboration; it is a bridge between eras, between creativity and combat, between art and sport. It honors masters whose lives shaped generations, and inspires those who will define what comes next.
Learn more about the LeRoy Neiman Foundation
