David Adam Le Batard (19 November 1972 – 1 August 2023), also known by the nickname LEBO, was an American

graphic Graphics () are visual images or designs on some surface, such as a wall, canvas, screen, paper, or stone, to inform, illustrate, or entertain. In contemporary usage, it includes a pictorial representation of the data, as in design and manufa ...

and

fine Fine may refer to: Characters * Fran Fine, the title character of ''The Nanny'' * Sylvia Fine (''The Nanny''), Fran's mother on ''The Nanny'' * Officer Fine, a character in ''Tales from the Crypt'', played by Vincent Spano Legal terms * Fine (p ...

artist known for his murals, live painting, and sculpture. He was described as having been one of southern Florida's "most recognizable artists", and "almost an institution" in the art world for his wide range of media, projects, and locations.

Personal history

Le Batard was born in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

on 19 November 1972, to

Cuban exile A Cuban exile is a person who has been exiled from Cuba. Many Cuban exiles have various differing experiences as emigrants depending on when they emigrated from Cuba, and why they emigrated. The exile of Cubans has been a dominating factor in C ...

parents, Gonzalo and Lourdes Le Batard. He was raised in

South Florida South Florida, sometimes colloquially shortened to SoFlo, is the Regions of the United States#Florida, southernmost region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is one of Florida's three most commonly referred to directional regions; the two others are ...

, where he attended the Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School in

Hollywood, Florida Hollywood is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. It is a suburb in the Miami metropolitan area. The population of Hollywood was 153,067 as of 2020, making it the Broward County#Communities, third-largest city in Broward County, th ...

, then

Florida International University Florida International University (FIU) is a public research university with its main campus in Westchester, Florida, United States. Founded in 1965 by the Florida Legislature, the school opened to students in 1972. FIU is the third-largest univ ...

. He won the 1990

Silver Knight Award The ''Miami Herald'' is an American daily newspaper owned by McClatchy, The McClatchy Company and headquartered in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Founded in 1903, it is the fifth-largest newspaper in Florida, serving Miami-Dade, Broward County, Fl ...

for art in

Broward County, Florida Broward County ( ) is a County (United States), county in Florida, United States, located in the Miami metropolitan area. It is Florida's second-most populous county after Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County and the List of the most ...

, and later judged that competition. He was a lecturer in residence at the International Museum of Cartoon Art while attending

, which he graduated in 1995. Le Batard was the younger brother of Miami

sportswriter Sports journalism is a form of writing that reports on matters pertaining to sporting topics and competitions. Sports journalism has its roots in coverage of horse racing and boxing in the early 1800s, mainly targeted towards elites, and into t ...

Dan Le Batard Dan Le Batard is an American newspaper sportswriter, ex-radio host, podcast host and television reporter based in Miami, Florida. He has also worked at ESPN, and for his hometown paper, the ''Miami Herald'', for which he wrote from 1990 to 2016. ...

, who hosts the radio and television program ''

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz ''The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz'' is a syndicated sports talk show hosted by Dan Le Batard and Jon "Stugotz" Weiner broadcast out of Miami. It was also carried on many ESPN Radio Network affiliates nationwide and simulcast nationally on ...

''. David occasionally made appearances on his brother's show despite the fact that he had, by his own admission, never willingly attended a sporting event. He also served as the show's art director, designing television graphics and its former studio at the Clevelander Hotel. David Le Batard died on 1 August 2023, at the age of 50.

Themes and influences

LeBatard referred to his work as "postmodern cartoon art expressionism". His work often depicts musicians and musical metaphors, inspired by street art and Cuban music. His visual style involved "soulful" line-based abstractions against bold flat color backgrounds.

Works, collaborations and commissions

Le Batard also worked in the media of fabric, aircraft exteriors, cruise ship hull artwork, stained glass, furniture (he collaborated with designer Ralh Pucci, among others) and flower shows. In 2008 he collaborated with an Italian tile manufacturer to design the world's largest mosaic mural in Venice, Italy. Le Batard designed the exterior of ''

Norwegian Getaway ''Norwegian Getaway'' is a cruise ship of the Norwegian Cruise Line. She was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, and was delivered to her owner on 10 January 2014. At the time of her christening she was the world's ninth-largest cruise sh ...

''.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Le Batard, David 1972 births 2023 deaths American people of Cuban descent American graphic designers 20th-century American artists 20th-century American male artists 21st-century American artists 21st-century American male artists Artists from Miami Artists from New York City Florida International University alumni