ABOUT STEVEN LESTER:
Narrative Artist.
Storyteller.
Chronicler of the Human Spirit.
Steven Lester is an award-winning narrative painter based in Atlanta, Georgia. His work explores the intersection of visual art and storytelling, with a particular focus on resilience, perseverance, and the human spirit.
An acclaimed illustrator and former creative director, Steven’s career has spanned four decades and more than 100 national and international awards. His paintings have been exhibited at major institutions including the United States Sports Academy and American Sport Art Museum.
With a deep appreciation for the inspirational power of sport, Steven created “Unstoppable” to honor the often unseen journeys of Olympic athletes — those whose pursuit of excellence embodies the very essence of the Games.
Steven’s passion for narrative art extends beyond sport, with works also centered on themes of faith, history, and human achievement. His paintings reside in private and institutional collections across the U.S. and abroad.
Artist Statement: Unstoppable
My distinctive narrative style is well-suited for capturing the extraordinary stories of elite athletes—especially those who never made it to the medal podium. I’m drawn to the often-overlooked narratives that embody the true Olympic spirit: stories of resilience, sacrifice, and unwavering determination. These are the tales that captivate me—the underreported journeys where grit and heart overcome adversity.
What fascinates me are the modern myths unfolding in real time—the passing of the torch from one generation to the next. This is the essence of the Olympic ideal: the celebration of body, mind, and spirit in harmonious pursuit of greatness.
While the casual observer may focus on medals, I’m more interested in mettle—the testing of character, not just performance. Like Jesse Owens, I’m intrigued by what he called the athlete’s “inner life”—that mysterious and powerful force deeper than the desire to win, a relentless drive to become something more.
This exhibition is not a glorification of contemporary sports culture. In truth, much of today’s sports world—its scandals, excess, and obsession with winning at any cost—is troubling to me. Unstoppable stands in contrast to all that. It celebrates the overlooked heroes—the underdogs, scrappers, and overcomers who push past limits and make the improbable possible.
While talent and training are extraordinary, the real contest is one of spirit. It’s that ferocious inner fire that refuses to quit—the will to rise, to endure, to triumph. That is the story I’m telling. That is Unstoppable. all begins with an idea.
