
After reading a social media post about Georgia State University presenting the Ground Crew with honorary degrees at the Fall 2023 Commencement, art alum Steven Lester (B.V.A. ’75) immediately beamed with pride and wanted to contribute to this momentous occasion. Lester contacted the College of the Arts and presented a proposal to paint a portrait of the Ground Crew's three remarkable ladies -- Myra Payne Elliott, Barbara Pace Hunt and Iris Mae Welch – who worked tirelessly to desegregate Georgia State University. Hear from Steven about what this portrait meant to him, his artistic vision, and the process of rendering the Ground Crew on canvas.
“Ground Crew” 2022
(L-R: Iris Mae Welch, Barbara Pace Hunt, Myra Payne Elliott)
25”x36” Acrylic on Canvas
Steven Lester considers himself a contemporary narrative artist with nearly five decades of experience in both commercial and fine art painting. He has worked with major corporations, such as McDonald’s, The Coca-Cola Company and REI COOP, as well as universities, art collectors, athletes and private individuals across the globe. Lester has won more than 100 national and international awards, including the United States Sports Academy’s International Sports Artist of the Year and the American Sport Art Museum’s “Zhenliang He Cultural Medallion.” In 2018, Lester painted “Our Town. Our Team.” which celebrated the opening of Georgia State Stadium.

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