Photo by Michael Gerbino

Michael Shane Neal (b. 1968) is a distinguished American portrait artist known for his exceptional skill in traditional oil painting and his ability to capture the essence and character of his subjects. Neal has built an international reputation for his realistic and emotive portraits, often focusing on notable figures, including politicians, military leaders, and cultural icons. His artistic style is heavily influenced by the techniques of the Old Masters, emphasizing the use of light, shadow, and rich color palettes to create depth and lifelike portraits. Neal is an influential figure in the art community, celebrated for his commitment to the craft of portraiture and his ability to tell compelling stories through his paintings.

Since beginning a full time career as an artist at the age of 21, Neal has completed more than 600 commissioned portraits on display around the world. His public, private, and institutional portraits include U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, seven U.S. Presidential Cabinet members, former President George H.W. Bush, 9th Baronet and Laird of Luss, Scotland Sir Malcolm Colquhoun, four former U.S. Ambassadors to France, seven U.S. Senators including Majority Leaders Robert C. Byrd and Bill Frist, more than a dozen Federal Judges including Chief Judge Anthony Scirica, actors such as Morgan Freeman and Jimmy Fallon, numerous heads of Universities, and four U.S. Governors. In 2020 his portrait of Congressman John Lewis was acquired by the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.

Receiving his B.A. from Lipscomb University, Neal also studied at the Santa Fe Institute of Fine Arts, The Scottsdale Artist School, Lyme Academy of Art, and was a protégé of one of America’s most celebrated figurative and portrait painter, Everett Raymond Kinstler. Neal’s studio in the historic National Arts Club in Gramercy Park, just off Park Avenue in Manhattan, was formerly occupied by Kinstler and his teacher before him, Frank Vincent DuMond. DuMond not only taught Kinstler, but also Georgia O’Keeffe, Norman Rockwell, and James Montgomery Flagg. Neal is only the third artist to occupy the space in over 100 years.

Neal has received numerous awards and accolades for his work, including the Lotos Award of Distinction for the Arts and the Grand Prize Award from the Portrait Society of America. Neal’s work has been featured in publications such as American Artist, International Artist, The Artist’s Magazine, Art News, New York Magazine, and Fine Art Connoisseur. His portraits are housed in various public and private collections, including prestigious institutions such as the United States Capitol, Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, and the Pentagon.

Neal is the chairman of the board of the Portrait Society of America. He also serves on the board of directors of the Norman Rockwell Museum’s National Council and the Andrew Jackson Foundation. He previously served on the board of the American Patrons for the National Library and Galleries of Scotland (APNLGS) and the Executive Board of Trustees for Cheekwood Museum of Art. He is a member of the Allied Artists of New York, the Artist Fellowship of New York, the Salmagundi Club of New York, the Lotos Club of New York, the Century Association of New York, the Players Club of New York, the Sloane Club of London, and an Exhibiting Artist member of the National Arts Club in New York, among others.

In addition to his work as a portrait artist, Neal has also been dedicated to teaching and mentoring aspiring artists for more than 30 years. He conducts workshops and lectures, sharing his expertise in traditional painting techniques and portraiture.

Neal, the father of two daughters, also enjoys church and community outreach, golf, plein-air painting, travel, and reading with a particular interest in history.

Neal’s current commissions include former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Mr. and Mrs. Ross Perot, Jr., former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, and former U.S. Ambassador to France Jane Hartley.