After being inspired by the renowned sport art collection at the American Sport Art Museum & Archives (ASAMA) on the campus of the United States Sports Academy, a handful of students from the Mobile, Ala., area created some award winning sport art of their own.
The students – from the Rotary Youth Club, St. Paul’s Academy, and the National Charity League – created art inspired by their recent ASAMA visit. The art was displayed at the Eastern Shore Art Center (ESAC) in Fairhope at First Friday Art Walk to be judged by members of the Academy’s prestigious Art Committee.
The Academy’s 2019 Sport Artist of the Year Steven Lester looks at sport art produced by local students with Academy Art Committee chair Nancy Raia and member Susan McCullough.
The art contest was held in conjunction with a visit to the area from the Academy’s 2019 Sport Artist of the Year, painter Steven Lester, who was in town for his own sport art show at ESAC. Lester, along with Art Committee members B.J. Cooper, Bruce Larsen, Susan McCullough, Nancy Raia, and Amanda Youngblood selected the top two winners from each age group.
Because of the Academy’s connection to the world of sport art, the institution donated to all of the students a series of collectible posters featuring works by some of its former Sport Artist of the Year winners. The posters were produced for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games that were held in Athens, Greece.
Lester’s art show at ESAC will be featured through the end of August. His work is widely recognized for its action sports themes that resonate with vibrant life and elicit a visceral, emotional response.
Lester will be formally awarded the honor of Academy Sport Artist of the Year at the Academy’s Awards of Sport event and reception on Thursday, November 14, 2019 on the Academy campus. The event, which is free and open to the public, is part of the Academy’s 35th Annual Awards of Sport program, a celebration of sport and art and a “Tribute to the Artist and the Athlete.”
As part of the program, Lester will unveil and display an original work that will be added to the permanent collection at the Academy’s American Sport Art Museum & Archives (ASAMA).
